PRODUCTION OF LIQUID DETERGENT

I. OBJECTIVES

 Distinguish between soaps and detergents

 Describe the effect of surfactants and mixing on the quality of liquid
detergent
 Prepare 300 milliliters each of the liquid detergent appropriately packed for
presentation and submission

II. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

DETERGENTS

A detergent is a surfactant or a mixture of surfactants with "cleaning properties

in dilute solutions." These substances are usually alkylbenzenesulfonates, a family of
compounds that are similar to soap but are more soluble in hard water, because the
polar sulfonate (of detergents) is less likely than the polar carboxyl (of soap) to bind to
calcium and other ions found in hard water. In most household contexts, the term
detergent by itself refers specifically to laundry detergent or dish detergent, as opposed
to hand soap or other types of cleaning agents. Detergents are commonly available as
powders or concentrated solutions. Detergents, like soaps, work because they are
amphiphilic: partly hydrophilic (polar) and partly hydrophobic (non-polar). Their dual
nature facilitates the mixture of hydrophobic compounds (like oil and grease) with
water. Because air is not hydrophilic, detergents are also foaming agents to varying
degrees.

A detergent is an effective cleaning product because it contains one or more

surfactants. Because of their chemical makeup, the surfactants used in detergents can

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be engineered to perform well under a variety of conditions. Such surfactants are less
sensitive than soap to the hardness minerals in water and most will not form a film.
Liquid detergents are composed of high levels of surfactants and other surfactant-
compatible materials, and liquid alkalis which are typically based on liquid hydroxides
and other alkali-stable materials.

DETERGENT CLASSIFICATION

Anionic detergents
Typical anionic detergents are alkylbenzenesulfonates. The alkylbenzene portion
of these anions is lipophilic and the sulfonate is hydrophilic. Two varieties have been
popularized, those with branched alkyl groups and those with linear alkyl groups. The
anion is neutralised with an alkaline or basic material, to produce full detergency.

The anionic detergents are used extensively in most detergent systems, such as
dishwash liquids, laundry liquid detergents, laundry powdered detergents, car wash
detergents, shampoos etc.

Pictured are three kinds of anionic detergents: a branched sodium

dodecylbenzenesulfonate, linear sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, and soap.

Cationic Detergents
The detergency is in the cation, which can be a substantially sized molecule.
Strong acids are used, such as Hydrochloric Acid to produce Cl- as the “neutralising”

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agent, although in essence, no neutralisation takes place in the manufacturing process.
They have poor detergency, and are used more for germicides, fabric softeners, and
specialist emulsifiers.

Non-ionic Detergents
Non-ionic detergents are characterized by their uncharged, hydrophilic
headgroups. As the name implies, no ionic constituents are present, or are “ionically”
inert.

Amphoteric Detergents
These contain both acidic and basic groups in their molecule, and these have
characteristics of and can act as cationic or anionic detergents, depending on the pH of
the solution. They tend to work best at neutral pH, and are found in shampoo, skin
cleaners and carpet shampoo. They are very stable in strong acidic conditions and have
found favour for use with hydrofluoric acid.

SURFACTANTS

A surfactant or surface active agent is a substance that, when dissolved in water,

gives a product the ability to remove dirt from surfaces such as the human skin,
textiles, and other solids. Each surfactant molecule has a hydrophilic head, and a
hydrophobic tail that repels water and simultaneously attaches itself to oil and grease in
dirt. These opposing forces loosen the dirt and suspend it in the water. The mechanical
agitation of the washing machine helps pull the dirt free.
Surfactants are also referred to as wetting agents and foamers, lowering the
surface tension of the medium in which it is dissolved. By lowering this interfacial
tension between two media or interfaces (e.g. air/water, water/stain, stain/fabric) the
surfactant plays a key role in the removal and suspension of dirt. The lower surface
tension of the water makes it easier to lift dirt and grease off of dirty dishes, clothes
and other surfaces, and help to keep them suspended in the dirty water. The

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hydrophilic head remains in the water and it pulls the stains towards the water, away
from the fabric. The surfactant molecules surround the stain particles, break them up
and force them away from the surface of the fabric. They then suspend the stain
particles in the wash water to remove them.

COMPONENTS OF MODERN LAUNDRY DETERGENTS

Modern detergent formulations - the entire product vs just the surfactant -

contain several components. Three main ingredients are builders (50% by weight,
approximately), the alkylbenzenesulfonate surfactant (15%), and bleaches (7%).

Builders
Builders are water softeners. These chemical compounds are agents that
remove calcium ions by complexation or precipitation. Typical builders are
sodium carbonate, complexation agents, soap, and zeolites. They function by
sequestering or precipitating the problematic ions. One of the most common
builders is sodium triphosphate, which is used on very large scale for this
application.

Bleach
The main targets of bleaches are of vegetable origin and include
chlorophyll, anthocyanin dyes, tannins, humic acids, and carotenoid pigments.
Most bleaches in laundry detergents are oxidizers, e.g., sodium perborate or
sodium hypochlorite. In addition, other agents are added as "bleach activators",
to enhance the effectiveness of the bleaching agent; a popular one is
tetraacetylethylenediamine.

Enzymes
Many laundry detergents contain enzymes. The amounts of enzyme can
be up to about 2% by weight of the product. These agents are required to

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 degrade recalcitrant stains composed of proteins, fats, or carbohydrates. Each
type of stain requires a different type of enzyme, i.e., protease for proteins,
lipases for greases, and amylases for carbohydrates.

Other ingredients
Many other ingredients are added depending on the specific application.
Such additives modify the foaming properties of the product by either stabilizing
or counteracting foam. Other ingredients increase or decrease the viscosity of
the solution, or solubilize other ingredients. Corrosion inhibitors counteract
damage to washing equipment. "Dye transfer inhibitors" prevent dyes from one
article from colouring other items. "Antiredeposition agents" are used to prevent
fine soil particles from reattaching to the product being cleaned. Carboxymethyl
cellulose is used for this purpose.

SOME IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS OF THE RAW MATERIALS USED IN

LIQUID DETERGENT MAKING

CDEA

Coco DEA, or coco diethanolamine, is a diethanolamide made by reacting the

mixture of fatty acids from coconut oils with diethanolamine. It is a viscous liquid and is
used as a foam or suds booster in detergent making. It is also used as a foaming
agent in bath products like shampoos and hand soaps, and in cosmetics as
an emulsifying agent.

Fig 1. Structural Formula of CDEA

It is a viscous yellow liquid and has a density of 0.99 g/cm3.

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SLES

Sodium laureth sulfate, or sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES), is an

anionic detergent and surfactant found in many personal care products
(soaps, shampoos, toothpaste etc.). SLES is an inexpensive and very
effective foaming agent. SLES,SLS, ALS and sodium pareth
sulfate are surfactants that are used in many cosmetic products for their cleansing and
emulsifying properties.

Fig 2. Structural Formula of SLES

SLES is an irritant like many other detergents, with the irritation increasing with
concentration. It has also been shown that SLES causes eye or skin irritation in
experiments done on animals and humans. The related surfactant SLS is a known
irritant, and research suggests that SLES can also cause irritation after extended
exposure in some people.

STPP

Sodium triphosphate (STP, sometimes STPP or sodium tripolyphosphate or

TPP) is an inorganic compound with formula Na5P3O10. It is the sodium salt of
the polyphosphate penta-anion, which is the conjugate base of triphosphoric acid. It is
produced on a large scale as a component of many domestic and industrial products,
especially detergents.

The majority of STPP is consumed as a component of commercial detergents. It

serves as a "builder," industrial jargon for a water softener. In hard water (water that

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contains high concentrations of Mg2+ and Ca2+), detergents are deactivated. Being a
highly charged chelating agent, TPP5- binds to dications tightly and prevents them from
interfering with the sulfonate detergent.

Fig 3. Structural Formula of STPP

Polyphosphates are hydrolyzed into simpler phosphates, which in moderate

amounts are nutritious. For example, ATP, a related derivative of triphosphate, is
essential for life. Thus, the toxicity of polyphosphates is low, as the lowest LD50 after
oral administration is >1,000 mg/kg body weight. Similarly, no mutagenic or
carcinogenic effects nor reproductive effects have been noted. Salts of polyphosphate
anions are moderately irritating to skin and mucous membrane because they are mildly
alkaline.

Sodium Chloride

Sodium chloride, also known as salt, common salt, table salt or halite, is
an ionic compound with the formula NaCl, representing equal proportions
of sodium and chloride. Sodium chloride is the salt most responsible for the salinity of
the ocean and of the extracellular fluid of many multicellular organisms. As the major
ingredient in edible salt, it is commonly used as acondiment and food preservative. It is
used in detergent making as a thickening agent; provides viscosity to the soap

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Ethanol
Ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol, is a volatile, flammable, colorless liquid with
the structural formula CH3CH2OH, often abbreviated as C2H6O. Ethanol is used in
dissolving the dye, giving colour to the liquid detergent. Ethanol can also add
antiseptic properties to the detergent. Ethanol kills organisms
by denaturing their proteins and dissolving their lipids and is effective against
most bacteria and fungi, and many viruses, but is ineffective against bacterial spores.
Its density is 0.789 g/cm3 .

III. MATERIALS AND APPARATUS

MATERIALS

 150 grams sodium lauryl ether sulphate

 80 grams sodium chloride
 60 mL cocodiethanolamide
 60 mL ethyl alcohol
 10 g dye (yellow)
 40 grams STPP
 10 mL lemon fragrance
 2.4L distilled water

APPARATUS

 2 wooden ladle
 1 4-L plastic basin
 1 kitchen scale
 2 measuring spoon
 2 measuring cup

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  Gas stove
 1 4-L pot
 1 4-L PET bottle

IV. DEFINITION OF TERMS

 Amphoteric species are those that can react both as and acid and as a base.
 Anionic detergents are class of detergents having a negatively charged
surface.
 Cationic detergents are class of detergents having a positively charged
surface.
 Detergents are mixtures of chemical compounds including
alkylbenzenesulfonates, which are similar to soap but are less affected by
"hard water."
 Surfactants are compounds that lower the surface tension of a liquid, the
interfacial tension between two liquids, or that between a liquid and a solid.
Surfactants may act as detergents, wetting agents, emulsifiers, foaming
agents, and dispersants.
 Zwitterions are ions which are neutrally charged. It contains both positive and
negative charge.

V. PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS AND APPLICATIONS

Liquid detergents are very useful products. They are mainly used for cleaning
and for washing glass wares, household materials and other equipment. The product
has variety of forms, with different colors, brands, odors, but with the same raw
materials. Most of liquid detergents vary with the coloring used and addition of some
chemicals to add effectiveness and fragrance.

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VI. PROCEDURE

ENGLISH VERSION
Pre – Laboratory

1. Prepare all the materials and apparatus needed for the experiment.

Laboratory Activity

1. Put 1.4L of distilled water in a pot and boil the water for 15 minutes. You
have to use distilled water or de-ionized to avoid contaminating the liquid
detergent mixture. Tap water has substances that can cause the mixture to
eventually emit bad odour.
2. While waiting for the mixture to boil put SLES and iodized salt (80g) into the
basin. Mix them thoroughly using the ladle until iodized salt is completely
dissolved.
3. Once the water has boiled enough and the salt has completely dissolved,
gradually pour the water into the liquid detergent mixture. Stir. Keep on
stirring until the SLES is dissolved. The liquid detergent mixture becomes
foamy when stirred , which means that the SLES is being dissolved.
4. Now add to the mixture the CDEA, STPP and the fragrance.
5. Dissolve the water-soluble dye in ethanol then add to the mixture. Make sure
that the fragrance and dye are properly matched.
6. After pouring the in all the chemicals, mix until everything is dissolved. Let
the mixture cool until the bubbles subside. Then, add another liter of cool
distilled water. Once the mixture has sufficiently cooled down, the liquid
detergent becomes clear. You can now pour the finished product into the PET
bottles.

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Post – Laboratory

1. Prepare packaging for the product.

2. Design a brochure for the liquid detergent produced.

CEBUANO VERSION

Pre-Laboratory

1. Andama ang mga materials ug apparatus nga kailangan sa paghimo ug liquid

detergent.

Laboratory Activity

1. Pag-andam ug 1.4L nga distilled water, ibutang sa kaldero ug pabukala sulod

sa 15 minutos. Distilled or di kaha de-ionized water ang gamita kay di kini
maka contaminate sa liquid detergent. Ang normal nga tubig naay mga
butang nga makapahugaw sa liquid detergent ug makapabaho niini.
2. Samtang gahuwat nga mubukal ang tubig, pag andam ug SLES ug salt ug
ibutang kini sa basin. Sagula pagtarung hantod mahilis na ang salt.
3. Kung mubukal na ang tubig ug kung ang salt nahilis na, ibutang ang tubig sa
liquid detergent mixture. Kutawa kini hantod ma hilis and SLES.
4. Ibutang ang STPP, CDEA ug ang fragrance.
5. Hilisa ang dye gamit ang ethanol ug ibutang kini sa liquid detergen mixture.
Butangi ug puno nga 1L nga tubig. Pabugnawa ang mixture hantod ang buwa
mawala. Kung mubugnaw na ang mixture, mu klaro ang liquid detergent.
Pwede na kini i transfer sa PET bottles.

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 Post – Laboratory

1. Pag andam ug packaging para sa produkto.

2. Pag - design ug paghimo ug brochure para sa liquid detergent nga mahimo.

VII. SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM

Addition of boiling
Boiling of Mixing of SLES and water to SLES and
water NaCl NaCl mixture

Stirring of the
Addition of dye Addition of CDEA,
mixture
STPP and
fragrance

Cooling of the mixture Packaging (PET

(set aside to clear bottles)
mixture)

VIII. PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED

Material Related
 None

Equipment/Apparatus Related
 Available electric mixer inefficient to use
The mixer that is available in the laboratory is inefficient since it creates
bubbles when used.

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 Solution: Instead of using the electric mixer we substituted manual stirring to
control the bubble formation.

IX. CALCULATIONS ON EXPECTED YIELD/ MATERIALS COSTING

 Assume: 2500 ml raw material liquid detergent mixture yields 2500 ml final
liquid detergent product
 Theoretical Yield: 2500 ml liquid detergent
 Actual yield: 2350 ml liquid detergent

Percent yield:
𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑦𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑 2350 𝑚𝑙
𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑦𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑 = × 100 = × 100 = 94%
𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑦𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑 2500

Costing:

Expenses Quantity Price (Ᵽ) Total Price (Ᵽ)

Distilled Water 2.4 L 24.00 / L 57.60

Fragrance 10 ml 45 .00/ 30ml 15.00
Sodium lauryl ether
sulphate (SLES) 150 g 110.00 / kg 16.50
Cocodiethanolamide
(CDEA) 60 ml 145.00 / L 8.70

Ethyl alcohol 30 ml 26.75 / 150 ml 5.35

Iodized salt 80 g 13.50 / 500g 2.16
Yellow dye 5g 200.00 / 130 g 7.69
1.2 kW for 1
Electricity Consumption hour 10.70 /kWh 12.84
Packaging 7 8.00 /package 56.00
181.84

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  PROFIT

Mark-up Price = total cost x 15%

= Ᵽ 181.84 x 15%
= Ᵽ 27.28

Overall Cost = mark-up price + total cost

= Ᵽ 181.84 + Ᵽ 27.28
= Ᵽ 209.12

 SELLING PRICE

SP = Ᵽ 209.12 / 2350 ml laundry soap

= Ᵽ 0.09/ml

Final Selling Price of 300 ml liquid detergent ≈ (Ᵽ 0.09 /ml laundry soap)(300ml)
= Ᵽ27.00

X. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

CONCLUSION

The major difference between soaps and liquid detergents is the process that
they undergo to form such. In the soap making process, a process called
saponification happens, wherein a specific triglyceride (fat) is reacted with a strong
base to form soap. On the other hand, the process of making liquid detergent is only
through mixing in proper proportions various chemicals, specifically surfactants,

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builders and foam boosters to create an efficient liquid detergent. With regards to
their raw materials, the soap uses triglycerides, as organic substance, as its main raw
material. On the other hand, liquid detergent contains little amounts of organic
compounds; majority of it is synthetic. The main application of laundry soaps are for
disinfecting and sanitizing dirty and used clothes, hence called as stain remover, while
that of the liquid detergent is removing dirt and disinfecting from utensils. While both
of them have various differences, both of them share a common denominator, and
that is their purpose as a cleaning agent.

Surfactants are one of the major key players of liquid detergent's ability to clean
utensils; other ingredients can help liquid detergents clean better or even smell
better. As described previously, some types of surfactants typically do not work well in
hard water due to the excess positive ions present. Additives called builders can help
detergents to work better under hard water conditions. Builders in turn helps remove
Calcium (Ca2+) and Magnesium (Mg2+) ions in hard water by binding to them. This
allows the surfactants, especially anionic surfactants, to bind to more grime, rather
than the positively charged ions in the wash water. Builders also are bases, so they
work to neutralize acid. Another benefit of adding builders to liquid detergents is that
manufacturers can use less surfactant, since the builders make the surfactant more
efficient.

RECOMMENDATIONS

One expects best results in making liquid detergent, when they follow the proper
procedures, determine factors affecting quality and familiarize themselves on the
chemical proportioning and techniques when using these chemicals to be used and
especially their side-effects.
Still when one follows the proper proportioning of chemicals, processing, and
observations we would expect a very good quality liquid detergent.

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XI. REFERENCES

 Detergent. Retrieved July 19, 2013, 2012 from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detergent

 Detergent class. Retrieved July 19, 2013 from

http://www.chemistry.co.nz/detergent_class.htm

 Laundry Detergent. Retrieved July 19, 2013from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laundry_detergent

 Making Liquid Detergent. Retrieved July 19, 2013 from

http://www.mixph.com/2007/04/making-liquid-detergent-and-liquid-laundry-
soap.html

 Surfactant. Retrieved July 19,

2013fromhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surfactant

 Surfactants. Retrieved July 19, 2013from

http://www.scienceinthebox.com/en_UK/glossary/surfactants_en.html

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