PRODUCTION OF DISHWASHING LIQUID

Abstract

Dishwashing liquid is designed to be a highly-foaming mixture of surfactants that

have low skin irritation and so used mainly for washing hands and removal of food solids
from dishes and utensils. It also tends to solubilize, emulsify and separate grease, oil, and
other food substances. Chemical reagents used in preparation of dishwashing liquid are
Sodium laureth Sulfate (SLES), Coconut Diethanolemide (CDEA), Glycerin, Benzalkonium
chloride, colorant, essential oil and Sodium Chloride. In this activity, the students are
expected to know the significance of the reagents used in producing the dishwashing liquid.
Parameter test will be conducted to quantify the quality of produced dishwashing liquid to
commercial brands. The results show that the dishwashing liquid produced by the students
are capable of removing oil and grease and have more foaming power than the commercial
brand.

Keywords: SLES, CDEA, Glycerin, hydrophobic, Sodium Chloride

Introduction

Dishwashing liquid are becoming more and more important product for household

used (Surawanthanakul, 2006). Dishwashing liquid is designed to be a highly-foaming

mixture of surfactants that have low skin irritation and so used mainly for washing hands and

removal of food solids from dishes and utensils. It also tends to solubilize, emulsify and

separate grease, oil, and other food substances.

Chemical reagents used in preparation of dishwashing liquid are Sodium laureth

Sulfate (SLES), Coconut Diethanolemide (CDEA), Glycerin, Benzalkonium chloride,

colorant, essential oil and Sodium Chloride.

Sodium laureth Sulfate (SLES) is commonly used in preparing household cleaning

products because is has minimum irritating effect compare than other surfactant reagents, and

it used as a foaming agent and aid to efficient cleaning. Coconut Diethanolemide (CDEA)

also suited as a foam stabilizer and helps lessen the effect other reagents that can cause

irritation in the skin. Glycerin is being used widely in various household product and its main

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function is to moisture our skin, making it hydrated and soft. While Benzalkonium chloride is

mainly used as a preservative and antimicrobial reagent. Lastly, Sodium Chloride is used to

increase the viscosity of the dishwashing liquid.

In this activity, the students are expected to know the significance of the reagents

used in producing the dishwashing liquid. Also, it gives the students’ knowledge on making

dishwashing liquid which can be compare to commercial ones. Parameter test will be

conducted to quantify the quality of produced dishwashing liquid to commercial brands.

Also, to validate the cleansing power of the product it will be compared to dishwashing

paste.

Materials and Methodology

For the preparation of the dishwashing liquid, water-SLES mixture was prepared by

dissolving 140 g of SLES in a 250-ml beaker containing 72 ml of tap water. The mixture was

mixed thoroughly in a spiral manner to cover all the area of the beaker using spatula for 5

minutes and added to the 1000 ml beaker containing 700 ml of tap water. Since SLES is still

in its solid state, the mixture has been mixed again for 10-15 minutes until all SLES

dissolved in the water. Reminder, the water should be crystal clear to say that the SLES is

completely dissolved in water. Next, measure 60 ml of CDEA in a 100-ml graduated cylinder

and add it in the mixture and mix for 5 minutes. Afterwards, add Glycerin and mix it for 2.5

minutes then add Benzalkonium chloride and mix it also for 2.5 minutes. Next, add drops of

colorant in the mixture and mix until the color covered all the mixture. After this add the

essential oil and mixed again for 5 minutes. Lastly, add few amounts at a time of Sodium

chloride and stir it gently until the target viscosity of the mixture is acquired.

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 Add CDEA (60ml)
Glycerin (10 mL)
Prepare all the mixture Add 140 g SLES
Benzalkonium
chloride (1mL)

Add sodium chloride Add drops of colorant Add drops of colorant

END

Figure 1. Schematic Diagram

Results and Discussion

First reagent that has been used is Sodium laureth Sulfate (SLES), its texture can range

depending ᴏn the state. In this experiment, it is in sᴏlid state and it have a very slimy texture.

Feels almᴏst like a gel. SLES is commonly used in preparing household cleaning products

because it has minimum irritating effect compare than other surfactant reagents, and it used

as a foaming agent and aid to efficient cleaning. Next reagent is the Cᴏconut Diethanolemide

(CDEA). CDEA can balance the fᴏam and thicken the liquid. Also, it can lessen the effect of

other reagents that can cause irritation in the skin.

The third and fourth reagents are Glycerin and Benzalkonium chloride. Glycerin is being

used widely in various hᴏusehold product and its main role is to moisture our skin, making it

hydrated and silky. While the Benzalkonium chloride primarily task is to preserve and to be a

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anti-microbial reagent. Benzalkonium chloride wᴏrks by taking out microorganisms and

inhibiting their future growth, and for this role it is frequently used in antibacterial household

products. For the color of the mixture, oil-based colorant was used. Second to the last reagent

is the essential oil. Its main role is to add essence in the product. Lastly, the Sodium

Chloride. Its function is mainly to add viscosity to the mixture.

Figure 2. Comparison to commercial brand of dishwashing liquid

To test the quality of the dishwashing liquid, it has been compared to one commercial

brand of dishwashing liquid particularly Joy Dishwashing Liquid (Calamansi). In terms of

foaming ability, the dishwashing produced by the students are observed to produce more

foam than the commercial brand. Based on the ingredients used in the commercial brand,

only the reagent Coconut Diethanolemide (CDEA) is missing on its content. This reagent is

defined to be as a foam stabilizer and it should be the cause of more production of foam than

the commercial brand. In terms of its grease removal, two plates have been filled by 5 ml oil.

The performance of the dishwashing liquid is similar to or better than that of the commercial

brand. Regardless of the absence of other reagents in the commercial brand like dimethyl

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amine oxide, phenoxyethanol, cyclohexane diamine, methylisothiazolinone, which is all anti-

microbial and stabilizer, it can be still compared to the present products sold in the country.

Figure 3. Comparison to commercial dishwashing paste

To justify its cleansing power, it is also compared to a commercial dishwashing paste

particularly Smart anti-bacterial. In terms of its foaming power, it has been observed that the

commercial paste produced a low level of foam compared to the dishwashing liquid. Also, in

term of grease removal, same volume of oil is filled in the plate. Like soap and paste,

detergents have hydrophobic chains and hydrophilic fundamental. The hydrophobic chain

fends off the water but since oil non-polar or hydrophobic it is attracted to it. The

performance of the dishwashing liquid is similar in removing grease and oil like the

dishwashing paste.

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 Figure 4. Comparison between commercial solid soap

Figure 4 shows that the dishwashing liquid have a high foaming power compare to

the commercial solid soap particularly Surf bar. Based on the student observation, soap bar

doesn’t contain foaming stabilizer like SLES and CDEA. This may cause the result of better

performance in terms of foaming power.

Overall, the results show that the dishwashing liquid produced by the students are

capable of removing oil and grease and have more foaming power than the commercial

brand.

Conclusion

In the above result, it was stated that the dishwashing liquid are capable of

eliminating grease and oil and can be compared to commercial brands in term of foaming

power and removal of grease and oil. Regardless of the absence of another chemical agent

present in the commercial brand its performance is similar or better than that of the present

commercial brands in the country.

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 Knowing the content of the dishwashing liquid gives the students a knowledge of its

function which the students can be used to further activity or matter.

Recommendation

The student recommends adding more applicable reagents in the mixture. In terms of

the methodology, the dissolving of SLES takes too much of the time of the activity. The the

student suggest that it should be soaked an hour before the activity. The student also

observed that the color of the dishwashing liquid differs per each group. The student suggest

that it should have a uniform quantity of colorant to be added in such volume to avoid the

confusion in part of the student. Also, the viscosity of each group differs from each other. It

should have an exact amount and proper laboratory equipment to measure the quantity of

sodium chloride to be added in the mixture.

References

Surawanthanakul, S. (2006). Feasibility Study of Launching Liquid Dishwashing Product.

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