Lab Report Detergent

Abstract
This experiment was conducted to provide knowledge on how powdered detergent was
made and how it works when used as an effective cleaning agent depending on the soap bases
used. Powdered detergents are prepared by mixing the raw materials such as linear alkyl benzene
sulfonate (LABS) powder which serves as the grease-remover of the detergent, coconut fatty
alcohol sulfate (CFAS) powder which was used as the soap base, soda ash which prevents hard
water from bonding with detergent, sodium sulfate which does nothing for the wash but it is used
to bulk up the product, and the speckles to improve the visual outlook of the detergent. Scent oil
was added by sprinkling it out to the rest of the mixture and this is to make add fragrance to the
cloth. Methods used are quite easy depending on the amount of materials you are going to use.
For making huge amount of detergent powder, it is advisable to use mixing machines. Results
showed that the materials used in preparing powdered detergent has its own function and is
needed to be measured carefully in able to produce an effective product.
Introduction
The purpose of this experiment was to be able to prepare a powdered detergent.

Detergent is a chemical substance used to break up and remove grease and grime. An example of
this is laundry soap. Laundry soap is used to clean clothes and sometimes it’s also used to clean
some parts or things inside the house. Going back, detergents are more likely to be a mixture of
synthetic chemicals and additives cooked up in a huge chemical power plant. Detergents are
made up of enzymes, surfactants, optical brighteners and perfumes. Because stains are made of
different types of molecules, a range of enzymes are needed to break them down. Proteases break
down proteins, so are good for blood, egg, gravy, and other protein stains. Amylases break down
starches, and lipases break down fats and grease. Washing powders usually only contain one type
of enzyme, though some have two or all three. Surfactants are the most important ingredient in
detergents. They improve water’s ability to wet things, spread over surfaces, and seep into dirty
clothes fibers. They make water wash better because surfactants reduce surface tension. Also, the
surfactant molecules help water to get a hold of grease, break it up, and wash away. Surfactants
function by breaking down the interface between water and oils and/or dirt. They also hold these
oils and dirt in suspension, and so allow their removal. They are able to act in this way because
they contain both a hydrophilic (water loving) group, such as an acid anion, and a hydrophobic
(water hating) group, such as an alkyl chain. Molecules of water tend to congregate near the
former and molecules of the water-insoluble material congregate near the latter.
Experimental Procedures
Materials used in the experiments are 76g Linear alkyl benzene sulfonate (LABS)
powder, 76g Coconut fatty alcohol sulfate (CFAS) powder, 153g Soda ash, 576g Sodium sulfate,
11g Speckles, 30 drops Scent oil. Mix 76g of linear alkyl benzene sulfonate with 153g of soda
ash in a medium sized basin. Add 76g of coconut fatty alcohol sulfate and 576g of sodium
sulfate to the rest of the mixture. Add 11g speckles and mix it to the other materials. Lastly,
sprinkle the scent oil all over the mixture and let it dry for a few minutes.
Data Presentation / Interpretation
Amount used Materials
Linear alkyl benzene sulfonate

76g
(LABS) powder
Coconut fatty alcohol sulfate
76g
(CFAS) powder
153g Soda ash
576g Sodium sulfate
11g Speckles
30 drops Scent oil
Conclusion / Recommendation
Fabric softeners are used in washing clothes and make the fabrics neat, clean, and
fragrant. Chemicals are used to make clothes softer and pleasing. Comparing the detergent we
prepared to the detergents that are available on markets and grocery stores, both detergents give
the same performance. During the experiment, we tried to wipe a cloth on the table to get dirt
and dust on it. As the objective of this experiment said, we should test the effectiveness of our
product. We tried to get a minimal amount of the fabric softener, and as the role of fabric
softeners, it made the mask clean and fragrant. The chemicals used on the experiment really
made a big role on killing the dirt on the mask. It may lack the scent of a normal detergent, but
still, it is as effective as the normal ones. To sum this up, the products we have created are
effective even though it may not have the ingredients that the standard detergents have. As a
recommendation, we think that we should increase the amount of scent added to the detergent
since the fragrance observed from it is very minimal. And if we followed the ingredients of the
standard detergent, it would be very effective.
References
http://www.essentialchemicalindustry.org/materials-and-applications/surfactants.html
http://www.explainthatstuff.com/detergents.html
https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/1947-enzymes-in-washing-powders
https://99businessideas.com/detergent-powder-manufacturing/

Lab Report Detergent

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What are the main ingredients of powdered detergent and their functions?

How was the detergent prepared in the experiment?

Abstract

The purpose of this experiment was to be able to prepare a powdered detergent.

Data Presentation / Interpretation

Amount used Materials

Linear alkyl benzene sulfonate

576g Sodium sulfate

30 drops Scent oil

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