What properties of surfactants determine the environmental hazard of foams. Surfactants (surfactants)
I think that dry lines about the properties of surfactants cannot be called "light reading matter", but you cannot do without them if you want no one else to dare to hang noodles on your ears.
The rightful place of natural detergent components of cosmetics is among vegetable oils, animal fats, starch, saponin, pectin and sugary compounds, generously given away by flora. These substances have countless variations in their molecular structure, which gives them the ability to remove different types substances that pollute the skin and hair without disturbing the physiological barrier of the epidermis.
Surfactants (surfactants) are compounds that, upon adsorption (absorption, binding and retention of another substance), reduce the interfacial tension (the ability to mix two substances, such as water and oil) of a solution. In other words, surfactants can be called competent law enforcement agencies that quickly catch and neutralize criminal pests and pollutant reptiles, then firmly hold them in places of detention (that is, within their system), and in the process of executing the sentence they do not allow escape (dissolution in water) and mixing with the healthy part of the dirty-convicted society. Law enforcement agencies, excuse me, got carried away, PAV have three departments (three groups).
The first group - anionic and cryptoanionic sulfo compounds
This group of tensides is the most incompatible with dirt, and it is she who is most criticized by soapophobes. Anionic and cryptoanionic compounds (acetylpeptides, sodium, potassium, magnesium or ammonium lauryl and laureth sulfates) are better than all other surfactant groups in removing dirt from contact surfaces. Therefore, no effective cleanser can do without them.
Raw materials and production
People learned to produce this group of washing substances earlier than others (remember the passage about the ashes that the ancient sages sprinkled on their heads). As progress progressed, anionic tensides began to be cooked from proteins and fats alkalized (sodium hydrolysis) with ash (the most popular alkaline natural raw material is the ash of the Salasola soda tree) and other alkaline compounds. Coconut, palm, rapeseed, soybean, lard, spermaceti, cow and goat milk oils are used as raw materials for anionic and cryptoanionic surfactants.
Operating principle
The outstanding cleansing qualities of anionic tensides are explained by the structure of their molecules, which consist of two parts - hydrophilic ( loving water) and, conversely, hydrophobic.
The former allow them to dissolve in water (or polar solvents) and be completely washed off by it from the surface of the skin, while the latter allow them to come into contact with non-polar substances (hydrocarbons, resins, urea, dust, fats, oils). During washing with shampoo or soap, hydrophobic “jaws” bind the trapped dirt particles, placing them in the center of a micelle (a hollow ball formed by a series of molecules whose hydrophilic “tails” point outward and hydrophobic “heads” inward).
Properties
Fast, full-fledged, high-quality evacuation of dirt from the surface of the skin and its appendages, foaming, bactericidal (elimination of gram-positive microorganisms) and bacteriostatic, lipolytic (dissolution of oxidized fatty secretion of the sebaceous glands and resinous-mineral contamination of the skin) action.
The second group - cationic surfactants
Cationic tensides are compounds that dissociate (dissolve) in aqueous solution with the formation of cations (positively charged molecules).
Raw materials and production
Quaternary ammonium bases are polysaccharides derived from dairy products, lanolin, potatoes, corn, sugar cane, beets, sunflowers.
Operating principle
Due to their positive charge, cationic tensides are attracted to negatively charged hair and horny scales of the epidermis, accelerating their wetting, fixing valuable medicinal components contained in the cosmetic preparation on their surface, and also have a bradykinase effect (eliminate irritation, itching, burning, swelling). They capture and hold negatively charged particles, kill gram-negative bacteria.
Properties
Cationic tensides are valuable components of cosmetic preparations (shampoos, balms, conditioners): they activate foaming, increase the productivity of skin and hair oxygen exchange, emulsify oil and aromatic substances in an aqueous solution, have a bactericidal effect, and eliminate the residual electrical charge on the hair after washing (antistatic effect). ), provide easy combing, styling and increase the efficiency of therapeutic components on the skin and hair.
The third group - amphoteric and non-ionic cosurfactants
Manufacturers of high-quality cosmetics, in order to soften the action of the best, i.e., anionic cleansing ingredients (in particular, so that anionic surfactants do not damage the fatty complex of the hydrolipid mantle) and at the same time not reduce the cleansing activity of the drug by an iota, must be introduced into soapy coPA formula. Amphoteric and non-ionic tensides neutralize the acid reaction of anions, promote their rapid splitting, while increasing the density and reducing the “airiness” (diameter) of foam bubbles.
Raw materials and production of amphoteric surfactants
Amphoteric surfactants are one of the most expensive soap base ingredients. They are obtained by squeezing, extraction, infusion, rectification and oxidation of natural raw materials (both vegetable and animal). The most famous raw materials sources of amphoteric tensides, namely cocoamphoacetate, lactate, alpha-amino acids, pectins, waxes, are soapwort, algae, apple fruit pulp, root crops (beets, carrots, Jerusalem artichoke), palm oil, dairy products, lanolin.
The principle of operation of amphoteric surfactants
Even elementary knowledge in chemistry gives reason to doubt the possibility of combining cationic and anionic surfactants in a single formula, since oppositely charged substances, attracting each other in pairs, reduce their affinity for water (precipitate), and, naturally, cleaning activity decreases. Only thanks to amphoteric surfactants this problem was solved: these surfactants, due to their ability to easily donate and attach an electron pair, exhibit both acidic and basic properties, depending on the reaction of the environment in which they are located (so in alkaline environment they become anions, and in an acidic one they become cations).
Properties of amphoteric surfactants
Amphoteric tensides protect the skin and hair from dryness and irritation, restore the stratum corneum of the epidermis and hair keratin, soften and increase the elasticity of the connective tissue, give the hair silkiness, and the foam of the lathering substance - a creamy texture.
Raw materials and production of non-ionic surfactants
Compounds that dissolve in water without forming ions are called non-ionic. Their group is represented by polyglycol and polyglycol esters of fatty alcohols (for example, facestenside - Disodium Laurethsulfosuccinate - a fluid liquid consisting of citric acid and fatty alcohols). Non-ionic surfactants are obtained by oxyethylation of vegetable oils (castor, wheat germ, flax, sesame, cocoa, calendula, parsley, rice, St. John's wort). Non-ionic surfactants exist only in liquid or paste form, therefore they cannot be contained in solid detergents (soaps, powders).
The principle of operation of non-ionic surfactants
Aqueous solutions of fatty acid esters are a dispersion micellar solution, which is often called "smart soap" because it emulsifies dirt and grease, removing them from the surface of the skin and hair without damaging the protective mantle.
Properties of non-ionic surfactants
This type of surfactant makes the detergent soft, safe, environmentally friendly (biodegradability of non-ionic tensides is 100%). They stabilize soap suds, have mild thickening properties, have a bradykinase and polishing effect, restoring the outer layers of the epidermis and hair, and help to activate the action of therapeutic additives of the cleansing preparation.
That's all in a nutshell. I don’t know WHERE the multi-level dealers of “the world’s best cosmetics” heard that surfactants that are absolutely harmless to human and animal health contain “toxic chemicals and nitrites”. I think that the answer is not important, because the problem is not in surfactants, but in the crap brains of fighters with soapy substances: any thief is sure that there are no honest people, any seller of cosmetics, the formulation of which includes pesticides, dioxins and other rubbish, thinks that others do the same ... And they are wrong. While he exposes harmless ingredients in non-existent sins, decent cosmetic companies endow the world with magical formulas that make people beautiful and young, parting with a lot of cosmetic flaws. Therefore, wash your face joyfully and calmly, wash your hair with pleasure, do it at least every day: natural surfactants are completely harmless. And do not listen to cheap preachers who can damage anyone's "skin, eyes, ears, liver and brain."
Cleansing Shampoo Base
Ideas about the properties of cationic, amphoteric and non-ionic surfactants are detrimental to another falsehood - stories that "cosmetics that have cleansing and washing properties cannot be useful for skin and hair, since all its components are washed off with water." Of course, this is absurd, since some of the ingredients of the lathering base increase the penetrating power and prolong the action of biologically active substances and therapeutic additives contained in shampoos, hair balms and shower gels. As case study I propose to consider the remaining components of the soapy base of STYX naturcosmetic shampoos.
All Shampoos STYX consist of two formulas combined in one recipe: a basic (cleansing) base and therapeutic additives. The proportional ratio of the first and second formulas is on average 8:2, with the exception of the basic shampoo, the composition of which provides only a cleansing formula, and effective components in the form essential oils, infusions, extracts and decoctions of plants are introduced by each according to their own taste, in accordance with the goals and needs.
The basic basis of shampoos consists of three groups of surfactants, enriched with a number of additives that activate the cleansing formula, which include:
Milk amino acids, peptides, lactoenzymes and lactohormones- substances that normalize the functioning of the sebaceous glands for any type of hair, eliminate itching and irritation of the skin, dandruff, eliminate the pathogenic microflora that provokes the development of seborrhea.
Plant ceramides (alkyls, alkenyls)- solid or waxy lipid substances (sphingolipids) obtained from cereal oils, leguminous plants and from animal fats. They increase the protective barrier of the skin, restore damaged areas of the hydrolipidic mantle, eliminate dehydration of the skin, its lability to external factors. Ceramides (reinforced with cationic surfactants) restore the keratin shell of the hair, closing and compacting the scales of the outer layer. They make hair shiny and smooth, reduce their fragility, protect the ends of the hair from splitting.
Aleurone amino acids (wheat grain mini-proteins)- participate in the biosynthesis of skin and hair cells, restore damaged tissues, have an antioxidant, protective effect. Due to the enveloping effect, they give the hair additional thickness and strength, facilitate combing.
Flax oil- provides a moisturizing, anti-inflammatory, bradykinase effect, improves hair tone and its ability to keep its shape, facilitates styling.
Licorice extract- has a cleansing, anti-inflammatory, bactericidal, drainage effect.
Aloe juice- has a regenerating, metabolic, soothing, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunostimulating effect, activates regenerative processes in damaged tissues.
Honey and pollen- stimulate tissue metabolism, microcirculation. They have a moisturizing, tonic effect, activate reparative regeneration in damaged cells.
Lemon juice and apple cider vinegar- have a cleansing, tonic, adaptogenic effect. Soften, vitaminize skin and hair, strengthen capillaries. Increase the elasticity of the keratin "shell", eliminating the burnt look of injured hair.
Seaweed- have a detoxifying, strengthening effect, stimulate the processes of regeneration and renewal. Make hair shiny and silky.
Enzymes (alanine, alginine, glutamine, threonine, virgin, tyrosine, methionine, barine, lycine, glycine, etc.)- obtained from plant and animal raw materials: proteases - from plants rich in protein (legumes); lipases - from oils and fats; amylase - from plants rich in carbohydrates and dairy products. Remove persistent and “heavy” skin and hair contamination of protein, carbohydrate and fatty nature (waste tissue, oil distillation products, smog components, harmful inclusions tap water). Enzymes are extremely safe for the skin, because, regardless of the intensity of cleansing, they do not take moisture from it, while they are easily washed off with water. Enzymes are biological catalysts for skin metabolic processes, accelerating chemical reactions in viable cells and promote accelerated hair growth.
Lecithin and Fluidlecithin- substances of the phospholipid class, are natural emulsifiers and building material for cell membranes (obtained from plant and animal raw materials).
Polysaccharides, which include gelatin, and pectin, and cellulose, and glucose, and fructose, - are found both in plant (cane, beets, apples, algae, cereals, root crops) and in animal products (milk). Polysaccharides are the energy supply of cells, they activate the processes of biosynthesis, eliminate stressful conditions of the skin, retain moisture, gently removing toxic substances from the surface of the skin and hair. Polysaccharides often play the role of thickeners in cosmetics.
Sea salt- is a source of electrolytes necessary for the processes of infiltration and hydrolysis, due to which cellular metabolism is carried out. They increase efficiency nutrients cells, remove waste metabolites and dead skin and hair cells. Regulate the penetrating power of cosmetics, maintain the electrolytic and pH balance of the skin.
Vegetable oils (macadamia, jojoba, wheat germ, grape seed, avocado)- Overgrease the cleansing formula of the shampoo, protecting the hair from damage and dehydration. (Properties of vegetable oils, see the journal "Ether World", No. 40.)
Therapeutic filling of shampoos
STYX natural shampoos are the most popular, the most bought, the most sold, the most scarce (sometimes demand exceeds supply), the most praised and the most… amazing cosmetics. Usually, people who decide to try Stix's shampoo, overwhelmed with enthusiastic sensations, exclaim admiringly: “So that's what you are,“ Correct ”Shampoo!”, regretting that they found out about it only now.
I must say that there are plenty of reasons to admire the recipe and action of STYX shampoos. Take at least the consistency of the drug, similar to thick buckwheat honey, indicating a minimum of water and a maximum concentration of active substances. “Well, why sell water to people if your business is the production of cosmetics? Anyone who prefers a more liquid shampoo consistency is able to independently add water of the preferred quantity and quality to it: mineral, silver, holy, thawed, rain," Wolfgang Stix explains his pharmaceutical position. Since the first time everyone overdoes it with the amount of the drug (after all, everyone has their own idea of a meager dosage), I immediately warn you: in order to perfectly wash medium-length hair, just 3 ml of STYX shampoo is enough.
The second thing that should be mentioned specifically is the absence of the need to wash your hair twice when using STYX shampoos. A wide variety of cleansing agents in the formulation, each of which works in its own style and at its own level, allows you to effectively remove superficial, deep and stubborn dirt from the skin and hair in a single wash.
To date, there are fifteen types of STYX shampoos (taking into account the novelty - shampoo " rose garden„), each of which has a unique focus of action, but all of them are united by eight background qualities inherent in a lathering base: these are anti-inflammatory, bradykinase, antioxidant effects, stimulation of microcirculation, elimination of toxins, moisturizing and filling vitamin and mineral “gaps” in cell nutrition, ease of installation.
P.S. My sister is always very worried about the choice of gifts for loved ones on their birthday. For six months she runs around the shops, trying to find the one thing that will become a true joy for the recipient. Once, on one of the important dates (sometime it happens to everyone - all dates become like this) of my life, she presented me with a beautiful edition. These were philosophical parables of various religious denominations. Opening the book on the first page that came across, I learned about one old dried tree, which for thousands of years strove for the sun without leaving its place. One day, a thief sneaking past a tree got terribly frightened, confusing his silhouette with that of a gendarme. A young man in love, running past, clung to the roots of a tree, seeing in its shadow the features of his beloved. After that, the child, frightened by terrible tales, burst into sobs, seeing the grin of an evil monster in the sprawling pattern of tree branches against the sky. But the tree has always been and remained just a tree, because we see the world as we ourselves are.
Thus ended this parable that I accidentally read. So, perhaps, it is worth ending this article.
Legend has it that the first surfactant was obtained near an ancient Roman hill Sapo where sacrifices were made. The remains of animals were mixed with ash, washed away by rain from the mountains and fell into the Tiber River. Ancient Roman laundresses noticed that downstream the water of the Tiber was especially good at washing clothes. It was easy for them with the choice of surfactants!
And in our time, the number of types of surfactants is so large that it cannot be listed, and they are obtained from the most different types raw materials, both petrochemical and animal and vegetable origin. And it's not easy for them at all.
Since raw materials of plant and animal origin are considered renewable, it is more environmentally friendly to use them, however, at present, 80% of surfactants are made using raw materials of petrochemical origin. Although there is an upward trend in the use of raw materials from renewable sources. The basis for the production of surfactants are oils and fats, sugars, sorbitol, etc.
What are surfactants? The molecule of any surfactant consists of two parts: water-insoluble hydrophobic and water-soluble hydrophilic. The nature of the hydrophilic group determines the properties of the surfactant. Depending on the properties, all surfactants are divided into 4 groups: anionic, cationic, amphoteric and nonionic. Anionic ones have a negative charge, cationic ones have a positive charge, amphoteric ones are bipolar and can manifest themselves as nonionic or cationic, depending on pH media that are non-ionic have no polarity.
Surfactants are used very widely; cosmetics and personal care are just one of many uses. Surfactants are needed in many industries, in agriculture, in pharmacology. And for each specific use case, certain properties are needed.
When it comes to the use of surfactants in personal care products, both the actual cleaning properties of surfactants and acceptable low toxicity, low odor and dull color, acceptable cost, satisfactory foaming, etc. are important. For example, to produce a good shampoo, high foaming, in principle, is not necessary, but manufacturers choose surfactants with good foaming, knowing that the consumer pays attention to this.
Thus, the softest, most gentle surfactants will not always be the best choice for the manufacturer. Our precious skin barrier is not a priority for the shampoo and shower gel manufacturer.
Consider brief characteristics main groups of surfactants.
Anionic surfactants have good particle removal properties and good foaming properties. They work well in hard water. That is why they are widely used in household detergents. Examples of anionic surfactants: alkylbenzenesulfonates, alcohol sulfoethoxylates, fatty alcohol sulfates, alkanesulfonates, alpha-oleinsulfonates.
Non-ionic surfactants foam moderately, but remove fatty contaminants well. Examples of nonionic surfactants: alcohol ethoxylates, fatty acid alkanolamides.
Cationic surfactants, due to their positive charge, are easily deposited on negatively charged particles, such as fibers or skin, hair. Therefore, they are often used as softeners. Cationic surfactants can be combined with surfactants from other groups to obtain a multifunctional product (eg shampoo conditioner). Frequently used cationic surfactants are quaternary ammonium compounds.
Amphoteric (zwitterionic) surfactants, depending on the pH of the medium, can manifest themselves in different ways. They have excellent cleaning properties, but due to their high cost, they are mainly used in shampoos and other cosmetics. Examples of amphoteric surfactants: alkyl betaines, alkyl sulfo betaines.
Understanding such a huge variety is not easy. And it is absolutely impossible to know all surfactants, their names and properties. However, I will write a small cheat sheet with the names of surfactants often used in cosmetics.
Surfactants - surfactant - are the basis of all detergents: shampoos, liquid soap, shower gels, facial cleansers, mousses, etc.
The direct purpose of surfactants is to dissolve fats when washing. Embedding in extensive fat deposits, surfactants crush them into small drops that are easily washed off with water. They are usually used to enhance the action of other emulsifiers. Also thanks to surfactants, cleansers such as foams and gels for washing foam so well.
Surfactants are divided into groups:
1. anionic- in an aqueous solution they decompose with the formation of negatively charged ions; (SLS, SLES, ammonium laureth sulfate, sodium lauryl sarcosinate, potassium laurate, disodium oleate...)
2. cationic- decompose in aqueous solution to form positively charged ions (benzalkonium chloride, cetrimonium chloride, cetrimonium bromide...)
3. non-ionic- do not form ions in aqueous solution (peg-7 gluceryl cocoate, lauryl glucoside, cocoglycerides, cocamid DEA, peg-3 distearate, ethoxylated alcohols...)
4. amphoteric- in an aqueous solution, depending on the pH of the medium, they can exhibit cationic (in an acidic pH<7) или анионные свойства (в щелочной среде рН>7), (betaine derivatives - cocamidopropyl betain, cocoampho(di)acetate).
Anionic surfactants the most common - they are inexpensive, foam well, but quite hard, detergents based only on them dry the skin. To soften the composition, amphoteric and nonionic surfactants are needed in the mixture.
The molecule of anionic surfactants contains a water-soluble (hydrophilic) part, negatively charged and a fat-soluble (hydrophobic), neutral part. The fat-soluble part of the molecule binds and envelops dirt particles and the secretion of the sebaceous glands. The water-soluble part of the molecule is oriented away from the hair, which carries a negative charge, as a result of which the dirt particles associated with the surfactant are rejected by the hair, dissolved in water and removed.
Nonionic surfactants used in the composition to improve the consistency, characteristics, making hair silky and soft. More often than others, ethoxylated alcohols, ethoxylated castor oil, propylene glycol esters of high molecular weight fatty acids are used. A typical representative of oxyalkylamides is lauric acid diethanolamide, which is often found in shampoos. Nonionic surfactants cause a less pronounced denaturing effect than anionic surfactants, but they have a greater penetrating ability into the skin.
Amphoteric surfactants - soft and expensive- but only on these surfactants alone does the cosmetic product foam poorly, or rather worse than only on anionic ones. That is why manufacturers make a mixture of surfactants. Amphoteric surfactants are used in combination with anionic surfactants to produce a mild detergent.
Cationic surfactants have a weak detergent effect, are used as additives. Having a different charge with anionic surfactants, they neutralize their aggressive effect. This mixture is especially needed in shampoos. Anionic and cationic compounds do not combine well, therefore silicones, guar gums, and polyquaternium are often added to shampoos as a neutralizer (conditioner). They remove the negative charge from the hair, provide an antistatic effect. .
When applied to the skin, surfactants act on the lipid barrier of the skin in the same way as on all other fatty formations - they are built into it, disrupt its ordered structure and break it into separate droplets. Surfactants can penetrate quite deeply into the skin, down to the cells of the germ layer of the epidermis, which, of course, is not useful for the skin. Surfactants are often the cause of allergic skin irritation reactions. The toxic and irritant potential of all surfactants is different. Hacationic and anionic surfactants are more toxic, nonionic surfactants are softer. The classic skin irritant is sodium lauryl sulfate. But its analogue - sodium laureth sulfate - is much softer.
And yet, the ability of surfactants to destroy the lipid barrier of the skin can be useful. The fact is that many active additives are water-soluble and cannot independently penetrate the epidermal barrier. Destroying the lipid layers between the horny scales, Surfactants increase the permeability of the epidermal barrier, allowing other substances to pass through it to the deeper layers of the skin.
Surfactants remove dirt and grease from the cleaned surfaces, which dries out the skin and leads to a decrease in protective functions. As a result of the violation of the integrity of epidermal lipids, the content of NHF, a natural moisturizing factor, in the stratum corneum decreases. The skin becomes dry, its elasticity decreases. The penetration of surfactants into the deeper layers of the skin causes its sensitization (with reduction of barrier functions ), which can subsequently lead to an allergic process.
BUT. Margolin, E. Hernandez "New cosmetology
Ever wondered how dishwashing detergent and washing powder work and what it consists of?
The problem is that dirt, especially grease, is very difficult to wash off with water. Try washing greasy hands with water. The water will drain without washing off the grease. Water molecules do not stick to fat molecules and do not take them with them. Therefore, the task is to attach fat molecules to water molecules. This is exactly what surfactants do. A surfactant molecule is a sphere, one pole of which is lipophilic (combines with fats), and the other is hydrophilic (combines with water molecules). That is, one end of a surfactant particle is attached to a particle of fat, and the other end to water particles.
Surfactant (Surface Active Substances)
- this is usually chemical substances, which are contained in any cleaning agent, even ordinary soap. Just thanks to surfactants, the cleaning agent cleans.
However, most of the moisture in the human body is also based on fat. Those. for example protective layer skin (lipids - fats that protect the skin from various bacteria entering the body) is a fatty film and is naturally destroyed by surfactants. And the infection attacks the place that is least protected, which of course is harmful to human health. Surfactants also destroy body cells (destruction activity depends on the type of surfactant).
Experts say that after applying the cleanser, the protective layer of the skin should have time to recover within 4 hours to at least 60%. These are the standards of hygiene established by GOST. However, not all detergents provide such restorability of the skin. Fat-free and dehydrated skin ages faster. In addition, surfactants can accumulate in the brain, liver, heart, body fat (especially a lot) and continue to destroy the body for a long time. And since almost no one can do without detergents, surfactants are constantly replenished in our body, providing continuous harm to the body. Surfactants also affect reproductive function in men, similar to radioactive radiation.
The problem is exacerbated by the fact that our treatment facilities do not cope well with the removal of surfactants. That's why harmful surfactants are returned through the water supply to us in almost the same concentration in which we pour them into the drain. The only exceptions are funds with biodegradable surfactants.
Anionic surfactants— The main advantage is relatively low cost, efficiency and good solubility. But they are the most aggressive in relation to the human body.
Cationic surfactants have bactericidal properties.
Nonionic surfactants- The main advantage is a beneficial effect on the fabric and most importantly - 100% biodegradability.
Ampholytic surfactants— depending on the medium (acidity/alkalinity), they behave either as cationic or anionic surfactants.
Good biodegradability (80-98%) is possessed by some of anionic (anionic) surfactants eg alkylsulfonates. But nonionic surfactants have the most complete (100%) biodegradability.
The inclusion of non-ionic surfactants in detergent formulations results in a lower content of anionic active substances on the skin. A similar effect, namely, a decrease in the accumulation of anionic surfactants on the skin and tissues, was established when enzymes of biological origin were introduced into detergent compositions.
One of the main criteria environmental safety goods household chemicals is biodegradability of surfactants that are included in them. There are primary biodegradability, which implies structural changes (transformation) of surfactants by microorganisms, leading to the loss of surface-active properties. Complete biodegradability means the final biodegradation of surfactants to carbon dioxide and water. But not a single household chemical product is tested for biodegradability in our SanEpidemStations.
It's believed that in washing powder, no more than 5% surfactant is sufficient to wash well. So read the composition of the powders, the less surfactants, the less harm to health.
In essence, natural detergent only soap root and saponins (soap substances) from plants can be recognized.
