How do you make detergent?

How do you make detergent?

 

What is detergent?

  1. Any cleaning agent that is not a soap is a detergent. Detergents are usually made from synthetic resources such as petroleum fractions.
  2. They were developed during the Second World War in response to a shortage of animal fats and vegetable oils.
  3. Detergents are usually sodium salts of sulphonic acid.
  4. The general formulae for two common detergents are:
    How do you make detergent 1

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Preparation of detergents

  1. During the preparation of detergents, a long- chain hydrocarbon obtained from petroleum fractions is converted into an organic acid through a series of steps.
  2. The organic acid is then neutralised with sodium hydroxide solution to produce a neutral salt which is a detergent.

Preparation of sodium alkyl sulphate:

Step 1: Formation of an organic acid
A long-chain alcohol reacts with concentrated sulphuric acid to form alkyl sulphonic acid.
How do you make detergent 2
Step 2: Neutralisation
The resulting acid is then converted to a sodium salt by a reaction with sodium hydroxide.
How do you make detergent 3

Preparation of sodium alkylbenzene sulphonate:

Step 1: Formation of an organic acid
A long-chain alkene reacts with benzene to form alkylbenzene.
How do you make detergent 4
The alkylbenzene formed is then reacted with concentrated sulphuric acid to form alkylbenzene sulphonic acid.
How do you make detergent 5
Step 2: Neutralisation
The alkylbenzene sulphonic acid is then converted to a sodium salt by a reaction with sodium hydroxide.
How do you make detergent 6

The additives in detergents

  1. Detergents generally contain a number of additives.
  2. Additives are added to a detergent to enhance its cleaning efficiency and to meet the needs of consumers.
  3. The additives in a detergent and their respective functions are shown in Table.
AdditiveExampleFunction
Biological enzymeAmylases, proteases, cellulases and lipasesTo remove protein stains such as blood.
Whitening agentSodium perborateTo convert stains into colourless substances.
Optical whitenerFluorescent dyesTo add brightness and whiteness to white fabrics.
BuilderSodium tripolyphosphateTo enhance the cleaning efficiency of a detergent by softening the water.
Suspension agentCarboxymethylcelluloseTo prevent the dirt particles removed from redepositing onto cleaned fabrics.
FillerSodium sulphate, sodium silicateTo add to the bulk of the detergent and enable it to be poured easily.
Foam control agentSiliconesTo control foaming in a detergent.
FragranceTo add fragrance to both the detergent and the fabrics.