Hand-washing dishwashing detergents have been widely used in households, especially in urban households and public catering places, since they were introduced to the market. This is due to their excellent grease removal effect and convenient use.
With the improvement of people’s living standards, people are paying more attention to their own protection and safety, and they are also raising higher requirements for the safety of tableware and food, as well as for dishwashing detergents. At the same time, with the enhancement of environmental awareness, people are also paying great attention to the ecological problems of dishwashing detergents. These requirements are reflected in the development of detergent formulations, which has promoted formulators to make unremitting efforts from raw materials and compatibility to meet the requirements of strong cleaning power, low residue, low skin irritation, safety, and good biodegradability.
Current product development trends
The development of hand-washing dishwashing detergents shows the following characteristics:
- Highly effective in removing pesticides
As modern agriculture relies on pesticides, almost 100% of fruits and vegetables we come into contact with have “pesticide marks”. How to effectively remove residual pesticides to get cleaner and safer food is a concern for consumers.
The formulation design of liquid dishwashing detergents should consider the detergent’s ability to emulsify and remove pesticides. It is reported that adding sodium citrate or sodium phosphate can greatly improve the removal rate of pesticides, especially for the removal rate of copper, arsenic, and lead in pesticides.
- Gentle on the skin and non-irritating
Hand-washing dishwashing detergents, as good degreasers, inevitably degrease the skin (hands) to a certain extent, and at the same time cause irritation. How to protect the skin while ensuring cleaning ability, make the detergent degrease weakly, with low irritation, and prevent the skin from drying and roughening, has become the biggest driving force for dishwashing designers.
The emergence and application of new and gentle surfactants have promoted the development of dishwashing. Currently, the most widely used method to reduce irritation and protect the skin is to add amphoteric surfactants such as betaine, imidazoline, and non-ionic surfactants such as ethylenediamine. Since the commercialization of alkyl polyglucoside (APG) by Henkel in Germany in 1992, the application of APG in dishwashing detergents has also become the most active area of research and application of dishwashing detergents.
APG has good wetting, foaming, cleaning, and washing functions, as well as good compatibility and certain bactericidal properties. It can partially or even completely replace LAS and AES as the main active ingredient in detergents to make detergents with good biodegradability and better safety.
APG has good synergistic effects with AES/FAS, which can significantly improve cleaning power and reduce the use of surfactants.
APG has outstanding synergistic effects with LAS, SAS, and FAS. Studies have shown that adding APG to the LAS + AES system can greatly improve its skin-protection performance. For the SAS, LAS, and FAS system, the best effect is when SAA: APG = 60:40. For the LAS/APG system, amide compounds are not effective foaming promoters, and amine-type foaming agents should be used.
P&G found in research that when APG/MES is in the range of 70/30 to 80/20, it not only has good softness for the hands, but also can obtain amazing foam performance. Adding foaming agents such as BS-12 (betaine), DAO (ethylenediamine), and amide can obtain better foam.
From the research progress, the gentleness of dishwashing detergents is developing towards sugar-based surfactants, new amino acid-based surfactants, and betaine replacing ethylenediamine. At the same time, the importance of reducing the cost of betaine and the deamination of APG is becoming increasingly important.
- Concentration
Due to packaging, transportation, and environmental factors, hand-washing dishwashing detergents are increasingly tending to be concentrated.
In the early days, the effective matter content of dishwashing detergents was about 20%. Later, it gradually increased to about 40%. Now, the effective matter content of high-concentrated dishwashing detergents can reach 60%.
- Added enzymes and natural food extracts
The newest innovations in hand-washing dishwashing detergents involve incorporating enzymes and natural food extracts. These offer additional benefits like:
- Enhanced cleaning: Enzymes help break down food particles and stains, leading to more effective cleaning, especially for greasy or protein-based messes.
- Safe deodorization: Natural food extracts like ginger and garlic can provide safe and effective odor removal, eliminating residual food smells on dishes.
- Antibacterial properties: Some natural extracts, like tea tree oil or lemon, have inherent antibacterial properties that can further enhance hygiene.
- Eco-friendliness: Enzymes and natural extracts are often biodegradable and less harmful to the environment compared to harsh chemicals, making them a more sustainable choice.
The use of enzymes in dishwashing detergents is still evolving, with major enzyme companies developing specialized formulations for these products. Baby bottle cleaners with added enzymes are already gaining traction in the market, indicating potential for further growth in this area.
In conclusion, hand-washing dishwashing detergents are continuously evolving to meet changing consumer demands and environmental concerns. The focus is on improving cleaning power, reducing skin irritation, promoting biodegradability, and incorporating added functionalities like enzyme-based cleaning and natural deodorization. By staying informed about these trends, manufacturers can cater to the needs of conscious consumers and remain competitive in the market.
