Production of Detergent

Detergent: Detergent or synthetic clearing agent is the sodium salt of long chained alkyl/aryl hydrogen sulphate or sulphonate or alkylated fenoxy/ ammonium compounds. The general formula of detergent is R/Ar – SO₄ /SO₃ – Na, (R = 12 – 18C).

Detergent production are of three types:

Anaionic detergent: Its anion part acts as detergent. Example:

1. Sodium lorayl sulphate [CH₃(CH₃)₁₀CH₂ – O – SO₂ – O^–Na⁺]. It is produced from loryl alcohol (C₁₂H₂₅OH) which is derived from palm oil or coconut oil.
2. Sodium alkyl benzyl sulphonate or ABS detergent.

Cataionic detergent: Its cation part acts as detergent. Example:

1. Tertiary amine bromide. C₁₅H₃₁ – CH₂ – N⁺ (CH₃)₂ Br^–
2. Tertiary aniline chloride.

Non-ionic detergent: These are charge less alcoxy poly ethelene Oxide and alkylated phenoxy polyethelene oxide. Washing powder is produced by mixing anionic detergent with ion-ionic ones. They don’t product any froth & aren’t attacked by acid or alkali. That’s why; they are used in washing machine. Tri-poly phosphate is used as in powerful washing soda to control P^H.

General composition of Commercial detergent: 20-40% detergents + different types of builder, filler, dyes & other compounds.