Detergents Industry

Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq

 Detergent
• Synthetic detergents have similar molecular
structures and properties as soap.
• Although
g the cleansingg action is similar,, the
detergents do not react as readily with hard
water ions of calcium and magnesium.
• Detergent molecular structures consist of a long
hydrocarbon chain and a water soluble ionic
group.

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq 2

 Classification of Detergents
1. Anionic Detergent
g -
Most detergents have a
negative ionic group
and are called anionic
detergents. The most
used compounds
y
namely:
– Linear alkylbenzene
sulforates from
petroleum
– Alkylsulfates from animal
and vegetable fats
– soaps is also anionic in
character
Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq 3
2. Cationic Detergents:
• have a positive ionic
charge and are called
"cationic" detergents.
• good cleansing agents,
• possess germicidal
properties
ti which
hi h makes
k
them useful in hospitals.
• Most of these detergents
are derivatives of
ammonia.
• most likely to be found in a
shampoo or clothes
rinse .
"rinse".
• The purpose is to
neutralize the static
electrical charges from
residual anionic (negative
ions) detergent molecules.
• Since the negative charges
repel each other, the
positi e cationic detergent
positive
neutralizes this charge.
Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq 4
 Types of Fabric Softeners
• Type A is a dialkyl dimethyl quartenary
ammonium compound

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq 5

• Type B is a diamido alkoxylated quaternary
ammonium compound

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq 6

• Type C is an amido imidazolinium compound

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq 7

3. Neutral or non-ionic
detergents:
• used in dish washing
liquids.
• Since the detergent does
not have any ionic
groups, it does not react
with hard water ions.
• foam
f less
l th
than ionic
i i
detergents.
• more effective than
anionics
i i iin removingi soilil
at a lower temperature
• necessary for laundering
synthetic fibers
• also more effective at
removing body oils

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq 8

4. Amphoteric Detergents
• These contain both acidic and basic
groups
g p in their molecule, and can act as
cationic or anionic detergents, depending
on the p
pH of the solution, or as both
cation and anion.

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq 9

 Raw Materials
1.
1 Surfactants
2. Straight-Chain Alkylbenzenes
3
3. F tt A
Fatty Acids
id and
dFFatty
tt Al
Alcohols
h l
4. Suds Regulator
5. Builders
6
6. Aditives

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq 10

 1 Surfactants
1.
• surface-active agents
g
• any compound that affects surface tension when
dissolved in H2O/water solutions between
li id
liquids
• soap but the term is most frequently applied to
organic derivations such as sodium salts of high
molecular weight alkyl sulfates or sulfunates.
• pe
perform
o ttheepprimary
a y ccleaning
ea g & suds
sudsing go
of
washing action in the same way through the
reduction of surface tension.

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq 11

• Soil Removal
– accomplished by wetting
wetting, emulsifying
emulsifying, dispersing
dispersing, and or
solubilizing the soil by the cleaning agent.

– detergent molecules can aggregate in water into spherical

clusters.

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq 12

2 Straight-Chain
2. Straight Chain Alkylbenzenes
• Biodegradable
g detergents
g are made pprimarily
y from
phenyl-substituted n-alkanes of 11-14 C atoms

• The straight
straight--chain paraffins or olefins needed are
produce from petroleum

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq 13

Methods of Separating n-Paraffins
from Petroleum
a) By Adsorption using Molecular Sieves
– Branch chain and cyclic alkanes have larger
cross-sectional
cross sectional diameters than do the linear
molecules, thus making sieve separation
possible.

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq 14

b) By Reaction with Urea and Thiourea

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq 15

 3 Fatty Acids and Fatty Alcohols
3.
A. Economics
A
• Fatty Acids & Fatty Alcohols are mainly
consumed in the manufacture of
detergents and soaps. Fatty Acids, both
saturated and unsaturated
unsaturated, have long
been employed in many industries as
both free acids
acids, and
and, more frequently as
salts.

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq 16

• Examples:
– Magnesium stearates in face powders
– Calcium/Aluminum soaps employed as water
repellents
ll iin water proofing
fi textiles
il and d walls
ll
– trithanolamine oleate in dry cleaning and
cosmeticsti
– lithium stearate as a component of greases
– rosini soap consume as a sizing
i i ffor paper

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq 17

B. Manufacture of Fatty Alcohols
1 Zeigler
1. Z i l PProcedure
d

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq 18

2. Alfol Process

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq 19

3. Methyl Esters
• ffats
t have
h long
l been
b basic
b i raw materials
t i l ffor
soaps & detergents. Such fats as are available
are glyceryl ester of fatty acids (C6 to C24) and
have been hydrolized to the acids of soaps and
reduced to the alcohol by catalytic hydrogenation
for detergents.
detergents The methyl esters of fatty acids
are also hydrogenated to fatty alcohols.

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq 20

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq 21
 4 Suds & Regulators
4.
• suds regulation is often necessary for
surfactants to do an efficient job of
cleaning in a washing machine
• achieved by combining different types
such as anionics with nonionics
nonionics, or anionic
with soap.

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq 22

 5 Builders
5.
• boost detergent power
• complex phosphates such as sodium
triphosphate,
p p , have been used most extensively y
• prevent redeposition of soil from the wash water
on fabrics
• proper formulation with complex phosphates has
been the key to good cleaning with surfactants &
made possible the tremendous development of
detergents.

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq 23

 6 Additives
6.
a. Corrosion inhibitors
– e.g. sodium silicate;
– p
protect metal & washer pparts, utensily
y & dishes from
the action of detergents & water.
b. Anti-deposition agent
– e.g. carboxymethyl cellulose
c. Tarnish inhibitors
– e.g. benzotria zole
– carry on the work of corrosion inhibitors & extend
protection to metals
metals.
Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq 24
d. Fabric brighteners
– are flourescent dyes
– make fabrics looks brighter because of their
ability
bili to convert ultraviolet
l i l lilight
h to visible
i ibl
light
e. Bluings
Bl i
– improve the whiteness of fabrics by
counteracting
t ti th
the natural
t l yellowing
ll i ttendency
d
f. Antimicrobial agents
– includes carbanilides, salicylanides, and
cationics

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq 25

g. Peroxygen
– type bleaches
h. Enzyme-containing-detergents
– the enzyme decompose or alter the
composition of soil & render the particles
more easily removable.
– useful in removing stains, particularly those
off a protein
t i nature
t

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq 26

Manufacture of Detergents

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq 27

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq 28
• The formulation of slurry for detergent granules requires
the intimate mixing of various liquid, powdered, and
granulated materials
materials.
• Detergent slurry is produced by blending liquid surfactant
with powdered and liquid materials (builders and other
additives) in a closed mixing tank called a soap crutcher
crutcher.
• Premixing of various minor ingredients is performed in a
variety of equipment prior to charging to the crutcher or
final mixer
mixer.
• Liquid surfactant used in making the detergent slurry is
produced by the sulfonation of either a linear alkylate or
a fatty acid, which is then neutralized with a caustic
solution containing sodium hydroxide (NaOH).
• The blended slurry is held in a surge vessel for
continuous p pumping
p g to a spray
p y dryer.
y

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq 29

• The slurry is atomized by spraying through nozzles
rather than by centrifugal action. The slurry is sprayed at
pressures off 4.100
4 100 to
t 6.900
6 900 kilopascals
kil l (kP
(kPa)) (600 tto
1000 pounds per square inch [psi]) in single-fluid nozzles
and at pressures of 340 to 690 kPa (50 to 100 psi) in 2-
fluid nozzles
nozzles.
• Steam or air is used as the atomizing fluid in the 2-fluid
nozzles.
• The slurry is sprayed at high pressure into a vertical
drying tower having a stream of hot air of from 315 to
400°C (600 to 750°F).
• All spray drying equipment designed for detergent
granule production incorporates the following
components:
– spray drying tower,
– air heating and supply system,
– slurry atomizing and pumping equipment,
– product cooling
p g equipment,
q p and
– conveying equipment.
Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq 30
• Most towers designed for detergent production are
countercurrent, with slurry introduced at the top and
h t d air
heated i iintroduced
t d d att th
the b
bottom.
tt
• The towers are cylindrical with cone bottoms and range
in size from 4 to 7 meters (m) (12 to 24 feet [ft]) in
diameter and 12 to 38 m (40 to 125 ft) in height
height.
• The detergent granules are conveyed mechanically or by
air from the tower to a mixer to incorporate additional dry
or liquid ingredients
ingredients, and finally to packaging and
storage.

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq 31

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq 32
Advantages and
Disadvantages
 Anionic Detergents
• Safe for use on all • Not veryy effective in
floors and should not hard water.
affect any pigment • More difficult to rinse
present in the floor than
h non iionic i
covering. detergents.
• Can safely be used • Produces
on waxed or unwaxed considerable foam.
floors or floors treated
with
ith a water
t emulsion
l i
floor wax or solvent- • - NATURAL
based wax.
a PRODUCTS

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq 34

 Non-Ionic
Non Ionic Detergents
• Safe for use on all • Less effective than
surfaces. anionic detergents in the
• Produce less foam than wetting metal surfaces.
anionic detergents. • Generally more
• Because of their low foam expensive than anionic
characteristics, they may detergents.
be effectively used in • Mostly available in liquid
conjunction with form.
scrubbing machines
• Easier
E i tto rinse.
i • -JOY OR IVORY LIQUID
• Very effective for
removingg oil and ggrease.

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq 35

 Cationic Detergents
• Have low-foam
characteristics.
• Carry anti-static
properties
ti and d are
effective in repelling dust.
• Very effective as a
bactericide, disinfectant
and deodorizer.
• More expensive
p than
anionic and non ionic
• Used alone, these
d t
detergentst are very
ineffective.
• Cannot be blended with
anionic detegents.
• - dish and hand washing
soaps.

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq 36

 Amphoteric Detergents
• These are greatly • Fairly expensive
affected by changes
in pH.
• Non-toxic, non-
irritating, germicidal
and compatible with
anionic, non-ionic and
cationic detergents
detergents.

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq 37

 Alkaline Detergents
• They remove a wider • Do not allow to remain in
range off dirt
di t and
d soilil th
than contact
t t with
ith the
th skin
ki for
f
any other type of any length of time.
detergent. • Wear rubber gloves.
• Economical.
E i l • Alkaline detergents may
• Can be used with a wide remove water emulsion
variety of cleaning floor waxes.
equipment
equipment. • May also affect
ff pigment
• Low foam properties in by causing it to fade or
the better alkaline yellow.
detergents
detergents. • Multiple
M lti l applications
li ti may
cause damage to the
surface.

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq 38

 Further Reading
• Chapter 29
29, Soap and Detergents;
Shreve’s Chemical Process Industries.

Prepared by Dr. Noaman Ul-Haq 39