What properties of surfactants determine the environmental hazard of foams. Surfactants
I think that dry lines about the properties of surfactants cannot be called “pulp fiction”, 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 sugar compounds generously endowed with flora. These substances have innumerable variations in their molecular structure, which provides them with the ability to remove different types substances that pollute the skin and hair without violating the physiological barrier of the epidermis.
Surfactants (tensides) 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 criminals-pests and reptiles-polluters, then hold them tightly in places of detention (that is, inside their system), and in the process of executing a sentence they do not allow flight (dissolution in water) and mixing with the healthy part of the dirty-convicted society. Excuse me, I was carried away by law enforcement agencies, three departments (three groups) have surfactants.
The first group - anionic and cryptanionic sulfonic compounds
This group of detergents is the most incompatible with dirt, and it is precisely it that the soap workers abuse most of all. Anionic and cryptanionic compounds (acetyl peptides, sodium, potassium, magnesium or ammonium lauryl and laureth sulfates) remove dirt from contact surfaces better than all other surfactant groups. Therefore, not one effective cleanser can do without them.
Raw materials and production
People learned to produce this group of washing substances before 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, alkalinized (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 oil, pork fat, spermaceti, butter from cow and goat milk are used as raw materials for anionic and cryptanionic surfactants.
Operating principle
The outstanding cleansing qualities of anionic tensides are explained by the structure of their molecules, which consist of two parts - hydrophilic ( water loving) and, conversely, hydrophobic.
The former allow them to dissolve in water (or polar solvents) and completely wash off with the skin surface, and the latter allow them to contact non-polar substances (hydrocarbons, resins, urea, dust, fats, oils). During washing with shampoo or soap, hydrophobic “jaws” bind the trapped particles of dirt, placing them in the center of the micelle (a hollow ball formed by a series of molecules whose hydrophilic “tails” are directed outward and hydrophobic “heads” inward).
The properties
Fast, full, 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 the oxidized fat secretion of the sebaceous glands and resinous-mineral skin contamination) 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 obtained from dairy products, lanolin, potatoes, corn, sugarcane, 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 therapeutic components contained in the cosmetic product 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.
The properties
Cationic tensides are valuable components of cosmetics (shampoos, balms, conditioners): they activate foaming, increase the productivity of oxygen exchange of the skin and hair, emulsify oil and aromatic substances in an aqueous solution, have a bactericidal effect, eliminate the residual electric 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 surfactants
Manufacturers of high-quality cosmetics in order to soften the effect of the best, i.e., anionic cleansing ingredients (in particular, so that anionic surfactants do not damage the lipid complex of the hydrolipidic mantle) and at the same time do not reduce an iota of the cleansing activity of the drug, must be injected into formula of co-surfactants. Amphoteric and non-ionic tensides neutralize the acid reaction of anions, contribute to their rapid cleavage, while increasing the density and reducing the "airiness" (diameter) of the foam bubbles.
Raw materials and production of amphoteric surfactants
Amphoteric surfactants are one of the most expensive ingredients in a soap base. They are obtained by squeezing, extraction, infusion, rectification and oxidation of natural raw materials (both plant and animal sense). The most famous raw material sources of amphoteric tensides, namely cocoamphoacetate, lactate, alpha amino acids, pectins, waxes, are soap dish, algae, pulp of apple fruits, 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, attracted to each other in pairs, decrease their affinity for water (precipitate), and, naturally, the cleaning activity decreases. Only thanks to amphoteric tensides this problem was solved: these surfactants, due to their ability to easily give and attach an electron pair, exhibit both acidic and basic properties depending on the reaction of the medium in which they are located (so in alkaline environment they become anions, and in acid - cations).
Properties of amphoteric surfactants
Amphoteric tensides protect the skin and hair from dryness and irritation, restore the stratum corneum of the epidermis and keratin of the hair, soften, increase the elasticity of the connective tissue, give the hair a silkiness, and the foam of the soapy substance - a creamy texture.
Raw materials and production of nonionic surfactants
Compounds that dissolve in water without the formation of ions are called non-ionic. Their group is represented by polyglycolic and polyglycolic esters of fatty alcohols (for example, Feistenside - Disodium Laurethsulfosuccinate - a fluid fluid consisting of citric acid and fatty alcohols). Non-ionic surfactants are obtained by hydroxyethylation of vegetable oils (castor oil, wheat germ, flax, sesame, cocoa, calendula, parsley, rice, St. John's wort). Nonionic surfactants exist only in liquid or pasty form, therefore, they cannot be contained in solid detergents (soap, powders).
The principle of operation of nonionic surfactants
Aqueous solutions of fatty acid esters are a dispersion micelle solution, often referred to as “smart soap”, because it emulsifies dirt and fat, removing them from the surface of the skin and hair without damaging the protective mantle.
Properties of nonionic surfactants
This type of surfactant brings the detergent softness, safety, environmental friendliness (biodegradability of nonionic tensides is 100%). They stabilize the soap foam, have mild thickening properties, have a bradykinase and polishing effect, restoring the outer layers of the epidermis and hair, and contribute to the activation of the therapeutic additives of the cleansing preparation.
That's all for a short while. I don’t know WHERE the multilevel traders of “the best cosmetics in the world” have heard that surfactants that are completely 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 that includes pesticides, dioxins and other rubbish thinks that others do it ... And it’s 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 ton of cosmetic flaws. Therefore, wash joyfully and calmly, wash your hair with pleasure, do it at least every day: natural surfactants are completely harmless. And don’t listen to cheap preachers who can damage anyone “skin, eyes, ears, liver and brain.”
Shampoo Cleanser
The idea of \u200b\u200bthe properties of cationic, amphoteric and non-ionic surfactants is detrimental to another conviction - the tales that “cosmetics with 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, because some of the ingredients of the soap base increase penetration 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 soap base shampoos STYX naturcosmetic.
All shampoos STYX consist of two formulas combined in one formulation: 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 basic shampoo, the composition of which provides only a cleansing formula, and the effective components in the form of essential oils, infusions, extracts and decoctions of plants are introduced by everyone 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:
Lactic amino acids, peptides, lacto-enzymes and lacto-hormones - substances that normalize the functioning of the sebaceous glands with any type of hair, eliminate itching and skin irritation, dandruff, eliminate pathogenic microflora, which provokes the development of seborrhea.
Plant ceramides (alkyls, alkenyls) - solid or wax-like lipid substances (sphingolipids) obtained from cereal oils, legumes plants and from animal fats. They increase the protective barrier of the skin, restore damaged areas of the lipid mantle, eliminate dehydration of the skin, its lability to external factors. Ceramides (reinforced with cationic surfactants) restore keratin shell of hair, closing and tightening the scales of the outer layer. Make hair shiny and smooth, reducing their fragility, protect the ends of the hair from splitting.
Aleuron amino acids (mini-proteins of wheat grains) - participate in the biosynthesis of skin and hair cells, restore damaged tissues, have an antioxidant, protective effect. Due to the enveloping effect, give the hair extra thickness and strength, facilitate combing.
Flax oil - provides a moisturizing, anti-inflammatory, bradykinase effect, increases the tone of hair and their ability to keep in shape, facilitates styling.
Licorice extract - has a cleansing, anti-inflammatory, bactericidal, drainage effect.
Aloe juice - It has a regenerating, metabolic, calming, 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 Vinegar - have a cleansing, tonic, adaptogenic effect. Soften, fortify skin and hair, strengthen capillaries. Increase the elasticity of the keratin "shell", eliminating the burnt appearance of injured hair.
Seaweed - have a detoxifying, strengthening effect, stimulate the processes of regeneration and renewal. Make hair shiny and silk.
Enzymes (alanine, alginine, glutamine, threonine, tselin, tyrosine, methionine, barin, lycine, glycine, etc.) - obtained from plant and animal raw materials: proteases - from plants rich in protein (legumes); lipases - from oils and fats; amylases - from plants rich in carbohydrates and dairy products. Remove stable and “heavy” contaminants of the skin and hair of protein, carbohydrate and fatty nature (waste tissue, oil 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, and are easily washed off with water. Enzymes are biological catalysts of skin metabolism that accelerate chemical reactions in viable cells and promoting accelerated hair regrowth.
Lecithin and fluid lecithin - substances of the class of phospholipids, 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 vegetable (cane, beets, apples, algae, cereals, root crops), and in animal products (milk). Polysaccharides are an energizing cell, they activate the processes of biosynthesis, eliminate stressful skin conditions, retain moisture, gently removing toxic substances from the surface of the skin and hair. Often polysaccharides play the role of thickeners in cosmetics.
Sea salt - It is a source of electrolytes necessary for the processes of infiltration and hydrolysis, due to which cellular metabolism is carried out. They increase digestibility. nutrients cells, remove spent metabolites and dead hair and skin cells. Regulate the penetrating ability of cosmetics, maintain the electrolytic and pH balance of the skin.
Vegetable oils (macadamia, jojoba, wheat germ, grape seed, avocado) - Overwhelm the cleansing formula of the shampoo, protecting the hair from damage and dehydration. (For the properties of vegetable oils, see the journal Ethereal World, No. 40.)
Therapeutic filling of shampoos
STYX natural shampoos are the most popular, best-selling, best-selling, most scarce (sometimes demand exceeds supply), the most praised and most ... amazing cosmetics. Usually, people who decide to try Sticks shampoo, overwhelmed with enthusiastic sensations, exclaim delightedly: “So there you are, the“ Right “Shampoo!”, Regretting that they found out about it just 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 manufacture of cosmetics? Anyone who prefers a thinner consistency of shampoo is able to independently add water of the preferred quantity and quality to it: mineral, silver, holy, thawed, rainwater, ”explains Wolfgang Styx of his pharmaceutical position. Since the first time everyone goes overboard with the amount of the drug (because everyone has their own idea of \u200b\u200ba 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 needs special mention is the lack of the need to wash your hair twice when using STYX shampoos. A wide variety of cleansing substances in the recipe, each of which works in its own style and at its own level, allows you to effectively remove superficial, deep and persistent contamination of the skin and hair with a single wash.
To date, there are fifteen types of STYX shampoos (taking into account the news - “ Rose garden„), Each of which has a unique direction of action, but all of them have eight background qualities inherent in a soapy basis: it has anti-inflammatory, bradykinase, antioxidant effects, stimulation of microcirculation, elimination of toxins, moisturizing and filling vitamin-mineral“ gaps ”in cell nutrition, styling facilitation.
P. S. My sister is always very worried about choosing gifts for loved ones on their birthday. For six months, she runs around the shops, trying to find the only thing that will become true joy for the person being gifted. Once, on one of the respectable dates (once it happens to everyone — all dates become so) of my life, she presented me with a beautiful publication. These were philosophical parables of various religious denominations. When I opened the book on the first page that came across, I found out about an old dried-up tree that had been striving for the sun for thousands of years without leaving the spot. Once a thief creeping past a tree was terribly afraid, confusing his silhouette with the figure of a gendarme. A young man in love, passing by, fell to the roots of a tree, having seen in his shadow the features of his beloved. After the child, frightened by terrible tales, fell into sobs, seeing in the spreading drawing of the branches of a tree against the sky a grin of an evil monster. But the tree has always been and remains only a tree, for we see the world as we are.
So this incidentally read by me parable ended. So, perhaps, it is worth finishing this article.
Legend has it that the first surfactant was obtained near the ancient Roman hillSapo where sacrifices were made. The remains of animals mixed with ash, washed away by rain from the mountains and fell into the Tiber River. Ancient Roman laundresses noticed that the Tiber water was especially good at washing laundry downstream. It was easy for them with the choice of surfactants!
And in our time, the number of types of surfactants is so large that they cannot be listed, and they are obtained from the most different types raw materials, both petrochemical and animal and plant origin. And with them, in general, everything is not easy.
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 manufactured using raw materials of petrochemical origin. Although there is a tendency to increase 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 surfactants. 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 have bipolar effects and can manifest themselves as nonionic or as cationic depending onpH nonionic media do not have polarity.
Surfactants are used very widely; cosmetics and personal hygiene are just one of many uses. Surfactants are necessary 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 hygiene products, both the detergent properties of the surfactants themselves and the acceptable low toxicity, low odor and dim color, acceptable cost, satisfactory foaming, etc. For example, for the production of 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 optimal choice for the manufacturer. Our precious skin barrier is not a priority for the manufacturer of shampoos and shower gels.
Consider brief characteristics major surfactant groups.
Anionic surfactants have good ability to remove particles of pollution and good foaming. 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.
Nonionic surfactants foam moderately, but well remove fatty contaminants. Examples of nonionic surfactants: alcohol ethoxylates, fatty acid alkanolamides.
Cationic surfactants, due to their positive charge, are easily deposited on negatively charged particles, for example, fibers or on the skin and hair. Therefore, they are often used as softeners. Cationic surfactants can be combined with surfactants of other groups to obtain a multifunctional product (for example, conditioner shampoo). Commonly 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 detergent properties, but due to the high cost they are mainly used in shampoos and other cosmetics. Examples of amphoteric surfactants: alkyl betaines, alkyl sulfobetaines.
Understanding such a huge variety is not an easy task. And it is absolutely impossible to know all the surfactants, their names and properties. However, I’ll write a small cheat sheet with the names of surfactants that are 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. Integrating into extensive fat deposits, surfactants crush them into small drops, which are easily washed off with water. They are usually used to enhance the action of other emulsifiers. Thanks to surfactants, cleansers such as foams and cleansing gels foam so well.
Surfactants are divided into groups:
1. anionic - in an aqueous solution disintegrate with the formation of negatively charged ions; (SLS, SLES, ammonium laureth sulfate, sodium lauryl sarcosinate, potassium laurate, disodium oleate ...)
2. cationic - in an aqueous solution they decompose with the formation of positively charged ions (benzalkonium chloride, cetrimonium chloride, cetrimonium bromide ...)
3. nonionic - they do not form ions in aqueous solution (peg-7 gluceryl cocoate, lauryl glucoside, cocoglycerides, cocamid DEA, peg-3 distearate, hydroxyethylated alcohols ...)
4. amphoteric - in an aqueous solution, depending on the pH of the medium, they may exhibit cationic (in an acidic environment, 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, well foaming, but harsh enough, detergents only dry the skin based on them.To soften the composition, amphoteric and nonionic surfactants are needed in the mixture.
The anionic surfactant molecule contains a water-soluble (hydrophilic) part, negatively charged and fat-soluble (hydrophobic), neutral. 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 connected to the surfactant are rejected by the hair, dissolved in water and removed.
Nonionic surfactants used in the composition to improve the consistency, characteristics, making the hair silky and soft. Most often used are ethoxylated alcohols, ethoxylated castor oil, propylene glycol esters of high molecular weight fatty acids. 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 greater penetrating ability in the skin.
Amphoteric surfactants - soft and expensive - but only on these surfactants alone the cosmetic product does not foam well, 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 mild 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 are poorly connected, therefore, silicones, guar gums, polyquaternium are often added to shampoos as a neutralizer (conditioner). They remove negative charge from the hair, provide anti-static 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 integrate 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 germinal layer of the epidermis, which, of course, is not useful to the skin. Surfactants are often the cause of allergic skin irritation reactions. The toxic and irritating potential of all surfactants is different. Hacationic and anionic surfactants are more toxic, nonionic surfactants are softer. A classic skin irritant is sodium lauryl sulfate. But its analogue - sodium laureth sulfate - is significantly milder.
Nevertheless, surfactants can benefit from the ability to break down the lipid barrier of the skin. 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 deeper layers of the skin.
Surfactants remove dirt and grease from surfaces to be cleaned, which drains 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 NUF, a natural moisturizing factor in the stratum corneum, decreases. The skin becomes dry, its elasticity decreases. The penetration of surfactants into deeper layers of the skin causes its sensitization (with lowering of barrier functions ), which subsequently can lead to an allergic process.
A. Margolina, E. Hernandez "New cosmetology
Ever wondered how it works and what the dishwashing detergent and washing powder consist of?
The problem is that dirt, especially fat, is very difficult to wash off with water. Try washing greasy hands with water. Water will drain without washing off the fat. Water molecules do not stick to fat molecules and do not take them with you. Therefore, the task is to attach fat molecules to water molecules. This is what surfactants do. The surfactant molecule is a sphere, one pole of which is lipophilic (combines with fats), and the other is hydrophilic (comes into contact with water molecules). That is, at one end, a surfactant particle attaches to a fat particle, and at the other end to water particles.
Surfactant (Surface Active Substances)
- this is usually chemical substancescontained in any cleaning agent, even ordinary soap. Thanks to surfactants, the cleaning agent cleans.
However, most of the moisture in the human body is also fatty. Those. for example, the protective layer of the skin (lipids - fats that protect the skin from the ingestion of various bacteria) is a greasy 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 (the activity of destruction depends on the type of surfactant).
Experts say that after using the detergent, the protective layer of the skin must 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 this skin regeneration. 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 practically 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 compounded by the fact that our treatment facilities do not cope with the removal of surfactants. therefore 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 the relatively low cost, efficiency and good solubility. But they are the most aggressive towards the human body.
Cationic surfactants have a bactericidal property.
Nonionic surfactants - The main advantage is the beneficial effect on the tissue and most importantly - 100% biodegradability.
Ampholytic surfactants - depending on the medium (acidity / alkalinity) they manifest themselves either as cationic or as anionic surfactants.
Good biodegradability (80-98%) have some of anionic (anionic) surfactantsfor example, alkyl sulfonates. But the most complete (100%) biodegradability is possessed by nonionic surfactants.
The inclusion of non-ionic surfactants in the detergent formulation leads to a lower content of anionic substances on the skin. A similar effect, namely, a decrease in the accumulation of anionic surfactants on the skin and tissues, was established upon the introduction of enzymes of biological origin into the detergent compositions.
One of the main criteria environmental safety of goods household chemicals is an biodegradability of surfactantsthat are part of them. Primary biodegradability is distinguished, which implies structural changes (transformation) of surfactants by microorganisms, leading to the loss of surface-active properties. Under full biodegradability, they mean the final biodegradation of surfactants to carbon dioxide and water. But not a single household chemical product in our SanEpidemStations is being tested for biodegradability.
It's believed that no more than 5% surfactant is sufficient in washing powderso that he does a good wash. So read the composition of the powders, the less surfactant, the less harm to health.
Essentially natural detergent only soap root and saponins (soap substances) from plants can be recognized.
