New and Improved Laundry Detergents

by Derk Huibers for the Surfactants Virtual Library, February 21, 2000

The January 24, 2000 issue of Chemical and Engineering News featured Soaps and Detergents. We learned that Laundry Detergents do more than just cleaning and stain removal. Ten to fifteen years ago phosphate builders were replaced with zeolites and various co-builders, like polyacrylates. Phosphates are still being used in automatic dishwasher and industrial and institutional and in liquid detergents.

Color fastness, fabric care and allergen removal

Liquid Tide Clean Rinse of Proctor and Gamble includes a patented alkoxylated polyalkylene amine to prevent dirt from depositing again on the fabrics in the wash. Cheer keeps fibers in the fabric with a cellulosic polymer named Liquifiber.
Unilever’s All Free Clear is fragrance-, enzyme-, and dye-free and is able to remove dust mite allergens, as proven in an eight month research program.
Febreze, an odor-removing spray of Proctor and Gamble contains cyclodextrins to capture odors on carpets and textiles.

Significant research is done by ingredient suppliers:

International Specialty Products (ISP) developed a dye-transfer inhibitor: poly(4-vinylpyridinium betaine), called “ChromaBond”. Incorporation in commercial detergent formulations requires fine-tuning of the surfactant blends, bleaching agents, and other ingredients. Alco Chemical, a Division of National Starch and Chemical, is developing a fixative to keep the dye on the cloth. Ciba has already a fixative available. It is called Tinofix. Rhodia is working on a polymer coating to protect fabric color by protecting the individual fibers. Rhodia already markets a polyethyleneglycol polyester soil release polymer, known as Repel-O-Tex that is deposited on the fabric during the initial washings. Soil that comes in contact with the thus treated fabric binds with the polymer and is released in later washings as a function of the right temperature and alkalinity. It works well on synthetics. Efforts are underway to make it work as well for cotton.

Novo and Genencor make protease enzymes for laundry and automatic dishwasher detergents. As new technology becomes available, enzymes can be tailored to other difficult problems in home care products.

Laundry Tablets:

International Specialty Products makes Disintex 75, which containes polyvinylpolypyrrolidone. This polymer rapidly absorbs water causing the laundry tablet to swell and break-up in 30 seconds, like aspirin. Rohm and Haas has Acusol 771, a fast swelling polyacrylate.

UV Absorbers and Antimicrobials:

Ciba makes Tinosorb, a UV absorber that increases the UV protection of a typical cotton T-shirt from 5-8 to 15, after five cycles. A laundry detergent with Tinosorb is only available in Cypress, and soon in Australia. Ciba’s Irgasan–brand triclosan antimicrobial is in laundry detergents for humid and hot climates.