The Builders - Important Components in Detergents

Abstract

The article presents the additives, the so-called builders, which help to increase the synergism of surface-active agents, to regulate the pH of liquor, which eliminate calcium, magnesium and heavy metal ions from the washing system and so reduce the incrustation on the textile materials. Depending on the type, the builders reduce the basic hardness of the water by the precipitation mechanism, by the complex ionic bond or by ion exchange. The most universal builder is Na-triphosphate, which because of its eutrophic effects must be replaced by other builders. The particularly good substitute is the tertiary builder system: Zeolit A - polycarboxylate - sodium carbonate.