DETERGENT INDUSTRY Sodium Carbonate Approximately one third of the worlds demand for Sodium Carbonate is for detergents, either in direct production, or in the manufacture of other detergent additives, such as sodium tripolyphosphate and sodium silicate, which itself is important in the manufacture of zeolites. The major aim of a laundry detergent is to remove soils and stains from a fabric whilst maintaining its colour and integrity. Most soils are acidic by nature, therefore detergents are usually formulated as alkalis. Sodium Carbonate (soda ash), due to its level of alkalinity is used to boost a builder such as sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) or a zeolite based formulation, which itself does not provide any alkalinity. Today's powder and liquid detergents are available in a wide range of forms for both the laundry and dishwash makets: Powders - loose, compact and ultra compact (concentrated forms) and tablets Liquids - standard, concentrated, liqui - tabs and sachets Products offering specific enhanced performance are also available eg. containing fabric conditioner, easy iron, crease free, 5 in 1 dishwash tablets containing salt and rinse aid. To achieve their aim, today's detergents are a complex mixture of products, which constantly evolve with new developments. A major driving force for change is to reduce the environmental impact of detergents eg. the development of enzyme technology has led to lower temperature washing cycles, with the subsequent savings in energy the drive to reduce water consumption (saving in energy) the introduction of concentrated detergents and resultant reduction in packaging material (reduction in waste and energy) unit dosage eg. tablets and sachets, the prescribed amount of detergent packaged within individual units (reduction in waste and energy) development of new builder systems ( environmental impact) new powder processing techniques have been developed enabling some of the above developments to happen The products making up a detergent may be categorized further into a range of functional groups: Builders Surfactants Bleaching Agents Auxiliary Agents A builder softens water enabling the surfactant to perform with greater efficiency A surfactant lowers the surface tension of the wash water enabling it to wet a surface and more readily loosen and remove soils. A bleaching agent destroys organic soils by oxidation and improves whiteness Auxiliary agents, include an extremely wide range of products with varying functions, from an optical brightener which enhances the 'whiteness' or 'brightness' of the fabric, to enzymes which break down proteins, fats and starches for ease of removal. Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Bicarbonate and Crex® (Sodium Sesquicarbonate) all have application within detergents. DETERGENT INDUSTRY either directly into laundry and dishwash powders and tablets, or as raw material/processing aid in the production of other detergent chemicals. Sodium Carbonate Sodium Carbonate has many attributes that make it an ideal detergent ingredient; source of alkalinity, high buffering capacity, absorbency which enable it to act as a carrier for liquid components, filler, agglomeration aid and a water softener (builder) removing calcium and magnesium ions by precipitation. It is applicable to all production techniques, spray drying, spray drying plus post addition, dry blending and agglomeration. Sodium Carbonate is widely used as a raw material in production of the two most popular builders, sodium tripolyphosphate and synthetic zeolites. Sodium Bicarbonate Sodium Bicarbonate has a lower pH in solution and is substituted for Sodium Carbonate where a 'milder' detergent formulation is required. This may occur to satisfy legislation eg. labelling laws or for a specific product differentiation eg. colour care products. The limited solubility of Sodium Bicarbonate may also be advantageous in formulating hard surface cleaners. Crex® (Sodium Sesquicarbonate) Crex® has an intermediate pH between Sodium Carbonate and Bicarbonate. It displays superior builder properties to Bicarbonate and may be formulated directly into detergents. Alternatively, Crex® may be added to a washing machine as a separate component and act as a water softener. All information given is believed to be accurate. However, no representation or guarantee, express or implied, is made as to its completeness, accuracy, fitness for a particular purpose or any other matter, including without limitation, that the practice or application of any such information is free of patent infringement or other intellectual property misappropriation. All information provided herein is intended for use by persons having he requisite experience, knowledge and skill. Tata Chemicals Europe Limited shall not be responsible or liable for the use, application or implementation of the information provided.