Detergents can be solid, liquid, powder (granulated) and paste like. Although powders lead the sales, possessing the highest concentrations, the liquid detergents are also quite popular, not without the help of advertisement.
The production of liquid detergents involves preparation of complex multi-component mixes. These are based on synthetic detergents. They can increase foam and emulsification of the product and reduce water interfacial tension. Such component is usually a surfactant: anionic, amphoteric, cationic and non-ionogenic.
The higher the detergent effect and surfactant biodegradability, the better and more efficient the detergent.
The production of detergents uses such materials as hydroxyolefinsulfonates, fatty acid ester sulfonates, oxyethylated fatty alcohol sulfates. Alkylsulfates is another popular additive due to good detergent action and high degradability.
Specific surfactants exist in the recipes of detergent production as anti-statics, corrosion inhibitors, water repellants, emulsifiers and disinfectants.
The process of liquid detergent production includes several stages, such as, preparation of the mix, drying and packaging. The first stage is the process of mixing surfactant with additives. The resulting solution is uneven and requires processing through a colloid mill.
To avoid breaking the technology process into too many stages and to accelerate the production process, as well as to homogenize the fininshed producti, a modern liquid blending system should be used. This allows to combine several stages of production into one, managed by computer-controlled formulation, precise dosage of the components, continuous mixing and fast production rate.
The obsolete methods of liquid detergent production have significant drawbacks, such as high energy costs, high consumption of materials, negative environmental effects and possible decomposition of sodium tripolyphosphate.
Some elements of the blending equipment: stainless steel mixing chamber, the pump, a separate intermediary vessel, fast replaceable filters and portioning devices are now all included in the new liquid blending unit. Coarse and fine filters, portioners, powerful pumps all increase the general production rate of the liquid detergent; the same equipment can be used for other applications.
The product range of synthetic detergent producer and the company’s ability to develop depend on many parameters. These include the cost of materials and power, changes of modern washing appliances, environmental standards, temperature and mineral content of water, application of the detergent and, of course, on the performance of equipment used to make the detergent.