Non-analytical sources of information

Certainly in the case of consumer products, but perhaps not in the case of industrial products, it is usually possible to discover useful information about the likely composition of competitors products from readily available non-analytical sources. Having first ascertained what information is required and why, it is worth considering the following before starting any experiments. 

The claims made on the pack itself or in promotional literature may give clues about the basis for new improved claims. If the same brand is on sale in the USA, the pack will carry a list of the ingredients. This is not always as helpful as one might wish, because some of the ingredients may be identified only by their manufacturers trade marks, but it is nevertheless often worth the time and trouble to obtain a pack of the USA product. 

Press and television advertising claims may also give useful clues. If the claims major on the bleach being in the purple dots , the product probably does not contain anything very novel in the surfactant area. 

Patents too can be useful sources. If the manufacturer has been patenting novel surfactants or mixed surfactant systems, the inventions disclosed are likely to turn up in a product sooner or later. Similarly, the manufacturer s recent publications in the scientific literature will provide 

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