Laundry detergent —See

Sodium sulfate in moderation is used as a diuretic and cathartic for humans and animals (14) (see Gastrointestinal agents). It is also used in consumer products such as laxatives, antacids, and as a natural filler it is used extensively in powdered laundry detergents (see Detergency). 

CeUulases have appeared in a few laundry detergents around the world. Since there are few, if any, ceUulase-based soils present on home laundry, any laundering benefit from ceUulase would be expected to come from action on cotton fabric. The nature and magnitude of such benefits is uncertain (see Enzya s, Ejdusthial Applications). 

Synthetic zeolites and other molecular sieves are important products to a number of companies in the catalysis and adsorption areas and numerous applications, both emerging and well-established, are encouraging the industrial synthesis of the materials. There are currently no more than a few dozen crystalline microporous structures that are widely manufactured for commercial use, in comparison to the hundreds of structures that have been made in the laboratory. See Chapter 2 for details on zeolite structures. The highest volume zeolites manufactured are two of the earliest-discovered materials zeolite A (used extensively as ion exchangers in powdered laundry detergents) and zeolite Y (used in catalytic cracking of gas oil). 

Large volumes of soap are used in industrial applications as gelling agents lor kerosene, paint driers, and as surfactants in emulsion polymerization. See also Soaps. Concern over water eutrophication resulted in a ban of phosphorus in laundry detergents. Phosphates have been effectively replaced by combinations of zeolite, citrate, and polymers, coupled with rebalanced synthetic active systems. Soap itself is generally present only as a minor component of surfactants. 

Replace dish, laundry and cleaning detergents as much as possible with products that are made from 100 percent natural substances and organically produced perfume-free does not necessarily imply that a laundry detergent does not contain synthetic substances It may not have a scent, but it can still make you sick. It s a matter of figuring out which product seems to work for you. See entries 174 and 184 for the various possibilities. 

There are various laundry products available to MCS patients. Here, too, you should test things to see which products work for you. One person might do just fine with the brands Ecover and Seventh Generation, while other people will have to keep looking for other suitable detergents. The perfume-free laundry products from supermarkets are usually not chemical-free and are thus best avoided. In natural stores and various online shops you can find many different organic laundry detergents which are suitable for MCS patients. See www.the-abc-of-mcs.com under Products (Online), or see Part VI for many addresses. 

The soap nut (sapindus) is an organic laundry detergent, originally from India and Nepal. The shell of the soap nut contains a sticky substance called saponin, which has the same properties as normal soap. When the nutshells come into contact with water, it creates a mild soap solution. See http //sapin dus.org and www.maggiespureland.com. Nowadays these soap nuts are also available in liquid form see www.maggies pureland.com/liquid.html. 

Very sensitive MCS patients sometimes use only baking soda as a laundry detergent for more information on this product, see entry 154. 

A number of perfume-free products are readily available in supermarkets. This does not mean that, for example, a perfume-free laundry detergent is also chemical-free. You won t easily find 100 percent natural/organic laundry and personal care products in the supermarket. For chemical-free products, it s best to go to a natural products store. You can also find various options online. Also see www.the-abc-of-mcs.com under Products (online) or go to Part VI Further Resources. 

A very different type of coextrusion is used to produce opaque bottles with clear viewing stripes, so that the consumer can see the product level in the container (see Eig. 12.5). In this case, the separate layer, rather than extending around the container, occupies the whole wall thickness in a defined portion of the container. Typically, unpigmented resin is used, which is processed in a small satellite extruder and introduced into the die as a separate vertical stripe in the parison. Since the resin is the same type as the pigmented resin found in the rest of the bottle, no tie layer is needed. Such containers are used for motor oil, liquid laundry detergent, and other products. 

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