Detergency nonaqueous systems

Although the first major commercial heavy-duty liquid composition was formulated with a builder system, the concentrations of builders and surfactants it delivered into the washing solution were lower than those provided by conventional detergent powders. As a liquid, however, the product possessed a unique convenience in use, particularly for full-strength application to specific soiled areas of garments. Convenience was accompanied by effectiveness, because the concentration of individual ingredients in the neat form approached that of a nonaqueous system. 

This chapter will mainly describe and tentatively explain how a polymer and a surfactant can influence each other s adsorption profile at different solid-liquid interfaces. All the studies that are reported here have been realized in water. Nonaqueous systems are not discussed here, as they are not widely applicable in industrial processes and are even totally irrelevant in detergency science. 

Although aqueous systems constitute the major portion of surfactant applications in detergency, nonaqueous or dry cleaning processes also constitute an important economic factor. Included in such processes are the familiar dry cleaning processes as applied to fine fabrics and articles that are adversely affected by water, as well as processes for the cleaning of various metal and ceramic parts that cannot tolerate significant exposure to moisture. 

WO 99/00481 (1999) A. Meyer et al., Procter Gamble Bleach activators, persalts Nonaqueous hquid detergent comprising organic acid to reduce solubihty of bleach system... 

While most detergent-related applications are carried out in aqueous systems, the important nonaqueous dry cleaning systems also fulfill the foregoing requirements for detergency. In the following discussion, however, all references are to water as the solvent unless noted otherwise. 

---