CHM144L Industrial Chemistry Laboratory

4th Quarter SY 2015-2016

Detergent Making
De Jesus, Medarlo B.1, Benjamin, Zidrick Ed C.2
Professor, School of Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Biotechnology, Mapua Institute of Technology; 2Student (s), CHM144L/A42, School of Chemical Engineering,
Chemistry and Biotechnology, Mapua Institute of Technology
1

ABSTRACT
Detergent is an effective cleaning product because it contains one or more surfactants. Because of their chemical makeup, the
surfactants used in detergents can be engineered to perform well under a variety of conditions. Detergents are widely used to
indicate synthetic cleaning compounds that cover both soap and synthetic detergents. Solubilization is a process in removal of
stains. In this process, detergent molecules in water aggregates into spherical clusters. There are three components in making
detergents. These are surfactants, builders and additives. Surfactants are any compound that affects surface tension when
dissolved in water or which similarly affects interfacial tension organic derivatives. It performs the primary cleaning and
sudsing of the washing action in the same way through the reduction of surface tension. Builders enhance the compatibility of
soap with water and it is known as water softeners. Calcium ions are binded with the builders which results precipitate.
Additives boost the performace of the detergent power. The purpose of this experiment is to be able to prepare detergent and
to understand the process of making powdered detergent. It also aims to design a procedure in evaluating the performance of
the powdered detergent produce versus leading brand in the market. Furthermore, it aims to identify the various roles of the
raw materials in making powdered detergent. The experiment was divided into two parts: (1) Detergent making, and (2)
Evaluation of the products. The apparatus used in the experiment were 250-mL beaker, Electronic balance, spatula, 100-mL
beaker, 100-mL graduated cylinder, electronic balance and stirring rod. In addition, the chemicals used were coconut fatty
alcohol sulfate (CFAS), linear alkyl-benzyl sulfonic acid (LABS), sodium sulfate, sodium carbonate (light grade), and sodium
tripolyphospate (STPP).
Keywords:Detergent, surfactants, builders, additives, performance, cleaning

INTRODUCTION
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
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.
Like the fatty acids used in soap making, both petroleum
and fats and oils contain hydrocarbon chains that are
repelled by water but attracted to oil and grease in soils.
These hydrocarbon chain sources are used to make the
water-hating end of the surfactant molecule.
Detergents are widely used to indicate synthetic cleaning
compounds that cover both soap and synthetic detergents.
There are different forms of detergent. It can be granules,
powder, bar or liquid. It is formulated to produce a product
of the desired characteristics ranging from maximum
cleaning power, maximum cleaning unit of cost to maximum
biodegradability. Detergents have four main groups:
anionic, cationic, non-ionic and amphoteric. Anionics are
the largest group which are usually the sodium salt an
organic sulfate or sulfonate. Usually, various desirable
properties are present in commercial products

Experiment 03 Date: 5/18/2015

Solubilization is a process in removal of stains. In this

process, detergent molecules in water aggregates into
spherical clusters. These clusters are called the micelles.
On the inside of the micelle, the hydrocarbon parts of the
molecules gather together while the polar groups gather on
the outside. Dyes, and other oil-soluble water-insoluble
compounds are dissolved into the center of the micelle
attracted by the hydrocarbon groups. Likewise, soil removal
is accomplished by wetting, emulsifying, dispersing and
solubilizing the soil by the cleaning agent. Cleaning agents
such as detergents contains hydrophilic groups on one end
and hydrophobic groups on the other end. These is the
special property used in soil removal.
Solubilization is a method in which we remove dirt and
other stains. In this process the molecules in water agitates
which forms small spherical clusters which are called
micelles. Micelles are lipid molecules that arrange
themselves in a spherical form in aqueous solutions. The
formation of a micelle is a response to the amphipathic
nature of fatty acids, meaning that they contain both
hydrophilic regions (polar head groups) as well as
hydrophobic regions (the long hydrophobic chain). Inside
the micelle, water insoluble compounds are dissolved.
Likewise, soil removal is accomplished by wetting,
emulsifying, dispersing and solubilizing the soil by the
1 of 3

CHM144L Industrial Chemistry Laboratory

4th Quarter SY 2015-2016

cleaning agent. Cleaning agents such as detergents

contains hydrophilic groups on one end and hydrophobic
groups on the other end. Thus this is the reason why
detergents could mix polar and non polar compounds.
There are three components in making detergents. These
are surfactants, builders and additives. Surfactants are any
compound that affects surface tension when dissolved in
water or which similarly affects interfacial tension organic
derivatives. It performs the primary cleaning and sudsing of
the washing action in the same way through the reduction
of surface tension. The cleaning process is divided into
three. First is thoroughly wetting the dirt and the surface of
the article being washed with soap or detergent solution.
The second one is removing the dirt from the surface. The
last one is maintaining the dirt in a stable solution or
suspension. The penetration of the detergent to the fabric
depends on its wetting ability. An increase of wetting ability
results to easy penetration. In addition, another factor that
also affects the efficiency, performance, and cost is its
biodegradability. Furthermore, surfactants are a series of
organic compounds with an alkyl group of 11 carbon atoms
connected to benzenesulfonate. Alkyl sulfates can be used
as an alternative. CFAS is an example of alkyl sulfates.
Builders enhance the compatibility of soap with water and it
is known as water softeners. Calcium ions are binded with
the builders which results precipitate. These boost the
performace of the detergent power. Some example of
builders are sodium carbonate, tetrasodium pyrophosphate
and sodium tripolphosphate (STPP). In this experiment,
sodium carbonate and STPP are used.
Additives are optional. This improves the performance of
the detergent. Some of these performances are the antiredeposition, corrotion inhibitors, fabric brighteners, antimicrobial agent, fabric conditioners, bleaches, and
enzymes. On example of additives is bleach.
This experiment inhibits the researchers to classified
different kinds of detergent at different concentrations of
samples in the detergent. It also enables us to scientifically
distinguish the difference of the different kinds of detergent
present in the public market.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The experiment was divided into two parts: (1) Detergent
making, and (2) Evaluation of the products. The apparatus

Experiment 03 Date: 5/18/2015

used in the experiment were 250-mL beaker, Electronic

balance, spatula, 100-mL beaker, 100-mL graduated
cylinder, electronic balance and stirring rod. In addition, the
chemicals used were coconut fatty alcohol sulfate (CFAS),
linear alkyl-benzyl sulfonic acid (LABS), sodium sulfate,
sodium carbonate (light grade), and sodium tripolyphospate
(STPP).
Table 1. Detergent Powder Formulation
PD1

PD2

PD3

CFAS

16.0%

11.2%

11.2%

LABS

0%

4.8%

4.8%

STPP

0%

0%

5%

Sodium
Sulfate

42%

42%

39.5%

Sodium
Carbonate

42%

42%

39.5%

For the first part of the experiment, Different formulation of

detergent is shown in table 1. Each amount of CFAS,
LABS, sodium sulfate, STTP, and sodium carbonate stated
in the formulation were weighed in separate 100-mL beaker.
In a 250-mL beaker, the sodium carbonate was placed
followed by the LABS if present in the formulation. Lastly,
the other chemicals was also mixed together with the
sodium carbonate.
The second part of the experiment is a test for the foam and
stain removal of the detergents. For the foam test, one
gram of powdered detergent is placed in a 100-mL
graduated cylinder then 20 mL of water was added.The
graduated cylinder was shook and the volume of the foam
was recorded. For the other test, the stain removal test
required the use of a white fabric stained with a teaspoon of
catsup. A same amount (by mass) of each detergent, tide
and surf was placed in separate beakers. Using the
graduated cylinder, 100-mL of water was measured and
added to each beaker. For 30 minutes, the fabric was
soaked. The result was compared according to the degree
of stain removed and whiteness of foam.
RESULTS and DISCUSSIONS

2 of 3

CHM144L Industrial Chemistry Laboratory

4th Quarter SY 2015-2016

In our experiment it was observed that the addition of

LABS, which is the black liquid, would produce heat in the
reaction as we wash our stained clothes. If the reaction
releases heat it is an exothermic reaction which we
therefore conclude production of carbon dioxide as the acid
and carbonate reacts with each other.
Table 2. Foam test
Formulation

Volume of Foam

PD1

29 mL

PD2

31 mL

PD3

25 mL

Results were recorded as tabulated from table 2.

Surfactants and builders affect the volume of the foam.
Based on the result, it was observed that PD3 has the
lowest volume for foam but theoretically this should have
the highest foam because it has STPP which is a typical
builder that sequesters water hardening calcium
magnesium ions. For the PD1 and PD2 the only basis that
can affect the foam was the surfactants. The surfactants of
PD2 are greater than PD1 therefore resulting a higher
volume of foam than PD1.
Table 3. Stain Removal Test

Breeze

Based on the results tabulated on table 3, It was

scientifically experimented and proven of the researchers
that the best out of the five samples is the breeze followed
by the surf. We expected these top 2 results because it was
clearly studied by the different companies on what amounts
of materials would be present to have the best result in
making a detergent. In our three detergents that was made
it was observed that PD1 has removed stains better than
the two other samples. Theoretically PD3 should have the
best stain removal but it didnt. There are many other
factors that may had affect this experiment, it could be the
amount of stain in each clothing which is not properly
distributed. In the experiment, the detergents were made of
CFAS, LABS and STPP. CFAS and LABS were the
surfactant which performed the primary cleaning. On the
other hand, STPP and sodium carbonate acted as builders
which boosted the detergent power.
CONCLUSIONS
Detergents have three main components the surfactants,
builders and additives. The surfactants perform the primary
cleaning in washing action. On theotherhand, builders
boosts the detergent power and softens water.
The qualities of the desired detergent in the market depend
on the foaming, stain removal, and aroma. The addition of
additives can give aroma to the fabric. An effective
detergent is usually a complex combination of the
ingredients which vary to achieve the desired foaming, and
stain removal abilities.

Formulation

Degree of Stain
Removal

Whiteness of
Fabric

PD1

REFERENCES

PD2

PD3

1.
Austin, George T. (1984) Shreves Chemical
Process Industries, Fifth Edition, McGraw-Hill International
Editions

Surf

Experiment 03 Date: 5/18/2015

3 of 3