Soap-based detergent formulations I. Comparison of soap-lime soap dispersing agent formulations with phosphate built detergents

Blends of soap with small amounts of lime soap dispersing agents are efficient detergents in hard water and require little or no tripolyphosphate builder. Lime soap dispersing agents examined include sulfated ethoxylated fatty alcohols, sulfated N-(2-hydroxyethyl) fatty amides, methyl esters of α-sulfo fatty acids, 2-sulfoethyl fatty acid esters and N-methyl-N-(2-sulfoethyl) fatty amides as well as nonionics derived from tallow alcohols. Detergency evaluations were carried out with three commercial soiled cotton cloths as well as by a laboratory multi-wash technique. Formulations containing 80% soap, 10% lime soap dispersing agent and 10% builder gave optimum detergency values. Builder effectiveness was rated tripolyphosphate>silicate (1:1.6)> metasilicate = citrate = oxydiacetate = nitrilotriacetate>carbonate≫sulfate. The detergency of soap-lime soap dispersed combinations compared favorably with a standard brand household heavy duty granular detergent in 50, 150 and 300 ppm hardness water on three soiled cloths.