Surfactants in the manufacture of detergents and cleaners

A wide use of synthetic detergents (SD) began in the forties of the 20 century, after mastering the commercial production of anionics (alkyl sulfonates - Germany alkylbenzene sulfonates -USA, United Kingdom) and nonionics (ethoxylated alkyl benzenes - Germany). 

Conventional formulations of cleaners and detergents obligatorily include, independent of their trade form (powders, pastes, gels, liquids), the following components 1) active matter (i.e. a surfactant or surfactant mixtures) 2) substances activating the washing effect 3) auxiliaries perfumes, fillers, viscosity controllers etc. Formulators have to solve the following tasks here  

1) the preparation must provide the removal of soils differing in their physicochemical properties (fats, solid particles, proteins, dyeing pigments etc.) In addition, the washing process must take place within the shortest possible time intervals - a few minutes maximum  

2) versatility of the preparation which must be manifested in consideration of the value of soil adhesion to the surface to be washed, which can be a) absorbing (fabrics, wood, ceramics etc.) but differing in its degree of hydrophilicity from maximum (cotton) to minimum (polyamide fibres) b) non-absorbing (glass, metals, plastics etc.), which also differs in its degree of hydrophilicity  

3) the degree in which surfactants affect the human organism and the environment. 

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