Developments in Energy and Water Saving Additives

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Environmental concerns, the continuing rise in the cost of energy, the cost of detergents and, in many parts of the world, the availability of water, are all factors that will drive the future development of laundry detergents. While consumers continue to expect increasingly higher standards of cleanliness and hygiene from their detergents, the technology needs to improve to fully meet these opposing criteria. This brand new study reviews the current state of detergent technology and the science that has been used to achieve it, as well as new developments and the future of the industry.

Find Out About

• The latest developments in sustainability and environmental regulations
• Global factors driving the market
• New developments in the chemistry of detergents

Introduction

The Basics of Laundry Detergents

• The substrates: water, soil and fabrics
• The science of detergency: surface and colloid science
• Types of laundry detergents
• Detergent components

Environmental, Sustainability and Regulatory Issues

• The European situation
  • EU detergent regulations
  • The ECO-label and EUflower label schemes
  • REACH
  • Washing machine energy ratings
  • North America
  • Energy star rating
  • Sustainability and lifecycle analysis

Market Pressures

• The global detergents market
• Regional washing practices

Reducing Water Usage: Washing Machine Technology

• Current washing machine technology
• Reducing water usage during domestic clothes washing
  • Replacement of toploading washers with front loaders
  • Reduction in volume of wash water
  • Intelligent control of washing machine
  • Spinning and rinsing
  • Recycling wash and rinse water
  • Soften wash water
  • Novel washing machine designs
  • Washing without water

New Chemical Developments

• Washing at lower temperatures
• Surfactant technology
• Technology of bleaches, activators and catalysts
• Enzyme developments
• Sterilisation using silver and other biocides
• Sterilisation and washing using ozone
• Surface treatments of textiles
• Low temperature detergents

Future Developments in the Detergents Industry

• Typical interfacial tensions at 200°C
• Composition of different types of detergents
• Environmental benefits of compact powder detergents
• Composition of a typical powdered heavy-duty detergent
• Global use of different types of surfactants
• Binding ability of major builders
• The surface tension of surfactant solutions
• Energy rating symbols for European washing machines
• Retail value of laundry care products
• Major global detergent suppliers
• Typical global handwash conditions
• Typical regional washing machine conditions
• Laundry washing temperatures in European countries
• Laundry washing habits in four European countries
• % households with washing machines
• Internationally recognised washing symbols
• Reduction in energy usage as the washing temperature is reduced
• Protease activity as a function of temperature
• The reactions of aryl esterase