REALCE, ZORIN R.
April 15, 2021
CHE311 – Chemical Process Industries
“I affirm that I shall not give or receive any unauthorized help on this assignment and that this
work is my own"
ZORIN R. REALCE
1. How is detergent differ from soap?
Detergent Soap
• Potassium or sodium salts of a long • Potassium or sodium salts of a
alkyl chain ending with a sulfonate carboxylic acid having a long
group aliphatic chain attached to it
• Soluble in hard water. • They are surfactants and therefore
• Solubility is attributed to the fact help in the emulsification of oils in
that the sulfonate group does not water
attach itself to the ions present in • Generally prepared via the
hard water saponification of fats and oils
• Commonly, anionic detergents such • Carboxylate end is hydrophilic
as alkyl benzene sulfonates are used whereas the hydrocarbon tail is
for domestic purposes hydrophobic
2. How to make soap and synthetic detergent. Send the reaction. Ex. Alkyl benzene + oleum =
alkyl benzene sulfonate
Reaction
Soap Tallow + Hydrolysis (splitting of fats) Tallow fatty acids
Tallow fatty acid + NaOH Sodium salt of fatty acid
Salt of fatty acid + Builder, etc. Soap
Synthetic Detergent Alkylbenzene + Oleum Alkylbenzene sulfonate
Tallow fatty alcohol + Oleum Fatty alcohol sulfate
Sulfonate + Sulfate + NaOH Sodium Salts
Sodium salts + Builders, etc. Detergents
3. Discuss the cleaning process of soaps and detergents
Cleaning Process
Soap Most of the dirt is oily in nature and oil does not dissolve in water.
The molecule of soap constitutes sodium or potassium salts of long-chain
carboxylic acids. In the case of soaps, the carbon chain dissolves in oil
and the ionic end dissolves in water. Thus, the soap molecules form
structures called micelles. In micelles, one end is towards the oil droplet
and the other end which is the ionic faces outside. Therefore, it forms an
emulsion in water and helps in dissolving the dirt when we wash our
clothes.
Soap is a kind of molecule in which both the ends have different
properties. The first one is the hydrophilic end which dissolves water and
is attracted to it whereas the second one is the hydrophobic end that is
dissolved in hydrocarbons and is water repulsive in nature. If on the
surface of the water, soap is present then the hydrophobic tail which is
not soluble in water will align along the water surface.
In water, the soap molecule is uniquely oriented which helps to keep
the hydrocarbon part outside the water. When the clusters of molecules
are formed then hydrophobic tail comes at the interior of the cluster and
the ionic end comes at the surface of the cluster and this formation is
called a micelle. When the soap is in the form of micelles then it has the
ability to clean the oily dirt which gets accumulated at the center. These
micelles remain as colloidal solutions. Therefore, the dirt from the cloth
is easily washed away. The soap solution appears cloudy as it forms a
colloidal solution which scatters light.
Detergent The cleaning process of detergent works by breaking down the
surface tension that exists between grease and water. They are referred to
as "surface active agents" or "surfactants". The process includes the
removal of dirt (or SOIL) that usually comes as: (1) soluble salts (sodium
chloride is an example), (2) common dirt such as dust or soot and (3) oils
and fats.
The soluble salts can easily be removed by soaking but grease may
hold the dirt on to the fibre or surface. Agitation will not be sufficient to
remove the dirt, so a "surface active agent" must be used to assist removal.
Detergents have millions of molecules of electrically charged
particles called ions, when dissolved in water. These molecules consist of
two parts, Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic. The hydrophobic is the organic
hydro-carbon part of the molecule and does not like water but dissolves
easily in grease. The Hydrophilic is the sulphonate part of the molecule
and dissolves easily in water.
Detergents has "surface tension" to water with the molecules lining
up. On dissolving detergent in the water, the surface tension is broken
down and the molecules separate into small spheres called micelles. The
spheres can hold hydrophobic dirt and oil particles as they escape into
suspension. Manual or mechanical agitation is usually necessary to obtain
best results.
4. What is biodegradability as applied to soaps and detergents?
Biodegradability is associated with soaps and detergents such that it measures the extent
of detergents and soaps when subjected to microbes and soil micro-organism which are catalyst
for biodegradation. It also measures the efficiency of the corrigent used in detergents and soaps
against microbes and soil microorganisms. Thereby, biodegradability is the new parameter that
has been added to the performance, efficiency, and cost factors that the detergent and soap
industry must consider in developing new products.
5. What is the newest substitute for phosphates in soap and detergent manufacturing?
The use of phosphate in detergent and soap products by several manufacturing industry
raised several concerns regarding the environmental impact and cost analysis of detergent and
soap product containing phosphate. Based on studies, it has been found out that phosphates in
detergents are discharged in the water surfaces causing high phosphate concentration that is
deemed harmful to the human health as well as the environment branching out several
destructions in the marine and aquatic resources. Thereby, phosphate has been banned in the
detergent and soap industry and most industries has shifted to greener builders resorting to the
use and development of citric acid as corrigent for detergent and soap products.
