Phosphated surfactants sodium tripolyphosphate

Sodium Metasiliate Sodium Tripolyphosphate Trisodium Phosphate Aerosol 22 Surfactant Triton CF-10... 

A builder is a compound that removes calcium and magnesium ions normally present in water, and, as a result, reduces the concentration of surfactants required to carry out the detergent action. Currently, the builder mainly used in practice is sodium tripolyphosphate. However, phosphates are plant nutrients and provoke eutrophication in lakes and streams which receive municipal wastewater contaminated with detergent residuals. Consequently, the use of phosphates in detergents has been restricted. 

Synthetic detergent bars deliver much of the same chemistry to the wash as heavy-duty granules. The primary cleaning power comes from anionic surfactants along with phosphate builders such as sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) and tetra sodium pyro phosphate (TSPP). In India, Latin America, and Africa, LAS is used as the main surfactant, whereas in the Philippines, a combination of alcohol sulfates (preferably coconut based) and LAS is used as the surfactant system. In premium bars, STPP is the preferred builder as it offers, in addition to excellent hardness binding capacity. 

Phosphoric acid and its salts find their most important uses in detergents and fertilizers. The phosphates in detergents are often in the form of sodium tripolyphosphate (Na5P30io). A typical detergent formulation contains 47% phosphate, 16% bleaches, perfumes, and abrasives, and 37% linear alkylsulfonate (LAS) surfactant (shown as follows) ... 

Builders are used to enhance the performance of the surfactant system, using several different mechanisms. Probably the most important functions of a builder system are to reduce the deleterious effects of water hardness, to provide an alkaline buffer, and to prevent soil redeposition. Until about 15 years ago, all the builder systems were based on sodium phosphates (pyrophosphate, tripolyphosphate). Due to eutrophication of lakes and rivers, phosphate levels were regulated and, in some countries, totally banned. As a result, different builder systems were developed, based on zeolites and citrate with acrylic acid polymers and copolymers. 

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