Soap & Detergent

Raw Materials for Soap and Detergent Industry
These provide fatty acids that react with alkali to form soap.
Common oils/fats:
 Palm oil
 Coconut oil
 Palm kernel oil
 Tallow (animal fat)
 Soybean oil
 Sunflower oil
 Olive oil (premium soaps)
 Castor oil (improves lather)
Function: Determines hardness, foam, cleansing power, and moisturizing effect.
Used to convert fats/oils into soap.
 Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) → hard soap bars
 Potassium hydroxide (KOH) → liquid soaps
These are the main cleaning agents in detergents.
Anionic Surfactants
 Linear alkyl benzene sulfonic acid (LABSA)
 Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)
 Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES)
Nonionic Surfactants
 Alcohol ethoxylates
 Fetty alcohol ethoxylates
Cationic Surfactants
 Quaternary ammonium compounds (fabric softeners)
Amphoteric Surfactants
 Cocamidopropyl betaine
Improve detergent performance by softening water.
 Sodium carbonate (soda ash)
 Sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP)
 Zeolites
 Sodium silicate
Increase bulk and reduce cost.
 Sodium sulfate
 Sodium chloride
 Talc
 Clay
Foam Boosters
 Cocamide DEA
 Cocamide MEA
Enzymes (Laundry Detergents)
 Protease → removes protein stains
 Amylase → removes starch stains
 Lipase → removes grease
 Cellulase → fabric care
Optical Brighteners
Make clothes appear whiter and brighter.
An-Redeosition Agents
Prevent dirt from settling back on fabric.
Examples:
 Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)
 Polyacrylates
Bleaching Agents
Remove stains and whiten.
 Sodium perborate
 Sodium percarbonate
 Hydrogen peroxide
Bleach Activators
Improve bleach efficiency at low temperature.
 TAED
Used for appearance and consumer appeal.
 Perfume oils
 Essential oils
 Pigments
 Dyes
Control thickness and stability.
 Sodium chloride (for liquid soap thickening)
 Xanthan gum
 Carbomers
 PEG compounds
Used in premium or specialized formulations:
 Skin conditioners (glycerin, aloe vera)
 Antibacterial agents
 Pearlizing agents
 An&-scaling agents
 Defoamers (dishwash liquids)