Detergent Powder and Cake

Abstract

Synthetic detergents have developed in the beginning of 20th Century and started making in-roads into the area earlier served by washing compounds i.e. soaps made traditionally from oils/ fats and caustic soda. Since soaps have comparatively lesser washing characteristics in hard water than synthetic detergents, synthetic washing compounds have been able to occupy a significant market which was enjoyed by washing soaps earlier. The term detergent originated from the latin word detergine (i.e. wipe off), is now-a-days applied to all synthetic washing compounds. Synthetic detergent is not only used as household cleaning material but also have industrial applications in textiles, pesticide industry as carriers, etc.