Detergents are compounds or their mixtures that constitute active components of cleaning supplies, such as washing up liquids, laundry liquids and powders, dishwasher tablets and other products with ability to remove dirt.
Sometimes detergents are understood as finished cleaning products. In the chemical industry, however, there is a clear distinction between ‘proper detergents’ – with reference to the first definition and other ingredients of cleaning products – including gloss-enhancing substances, artificial colouring, fragrance additives, nutrients, antistatic or bleach additives.
Surfactant producers’ focus on design and development of innovative products serving as a basis for a formulation or being separate active substances makes detergent industry’s growth possible. PCC Group, as a company focused on the implementation of innovations, expands its offer to include advanced substances and chemical formulations applicable to any sector of house¬hold chemicals. This includes household products, as well as specialised products intended for industrial washing and cleaning.
PCC Group’s product portfolio includes both finished products and surface active agents (surfactants) dedicated to the detergent industry. Variable composition of these substances determines a wide range of their functions and applications.
Surfactants (surface active agents)
The following substances are included in the group of surfactants used in production of household and industrial chemicals:
- washing and cleaning agents
- wetting agents
- foaming agents
- low and anti-foaming agents
- emulsifiers
- solubilizers
- thickening agents
- softening agents
- pH-regulators
- others
Surface active agents (surfactants) with properties mentioned above are components of products such as laundry liquids and powders, fabric softeners, dishwashing liquids, washing capsules, liquids and powders, floor and window cleaners, cleaning products for sanitary fittings, furniture cleaning products and many others.
Being aware of the nature of surfactants, we know that one compound is a combination of many features out of which only one determines the behaviour of a properly designed product. Research Divisions operating within PCC Group have developed a series of low foaming surfactants called Rokanol LP meeting the specific needs of formulations which do not require an intensive effect of foaming. Such formulations include among other things, automatic dishwasher detergent (ADWD) products. Furthermore, products from the series can be used as ingredients of industrial cleaning agents and glass surface cleaners, including mirrors.
Wetting agents should be considered when designing a cleaning formulation as their main task is to reduce the surface tension between the liquid phase and the cleaning surface. For such application, Group PCC recommends the series of Rokanol IT (ethoxylated synthetic alcohol C13 derivatives), Rokanol NL (ethoxylated synthetic alcohol C9-C11 derivatives) and Rokanol D (ethoxylated synthetic alcohol C6-C12 derivatives).
According to prevailing market trends, formulation with high viscosity are identified with a high-end product quality, therefore the varied product offer of PCC Exol includes substances that possess good thickening characteristics and thus allow for increased viscosity of final formula to be obtained. The most commonly used surfactants responsible for changes in rheology offered by PCC Group are products to which belong: Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES), Laureth – 4 (Rokanol L4), Laureth – 5 (Rokanol L5), Laureth -7 (Rokanol L7), Rokamid KAD (Cocamide DEA) and amphoteric surfactants (betaines) (Cocamidopropyl Betaine and Coco Betaine)
PCC Group extends and diversifies its product portfolio in order to target it better to the prevailing market trends. The company also offers preparation of finished blends tailored to meet clients’ specific needs..
Halogen Derivatives
Chemical substances such as liquid and solid sodium hydroxide, sodium hypochlorite and hydrochloric acid are widely used in the production of household chemicals and industrial cleaning agents. PCC Group operates a modern membrane electrolysis plant producing sodium hydroxide of the highest quality. Sodium hypochlorite is a by-product of electrolysis occurring through saturation of sodium hydroxide with chlorine gas which is manufactured by PCC Group. In addition, owing to a modern synthesis plant, PCC produces hydrochloric acid having a unique, at the European level, concentration and of exceptional purity.
Caustic soda and sodium hydroxide
Caustic soda and sodium hydroxide are used in the production of ionic surface active agents (surfactants) suitable for e.g. the manufacturing of washing powder and other laundry detergents. They are also widely used as cleaning and disinfection products ideal for disinfecting, unblocking and cleaning various types of surfaces and bathroom fittings.
Sodium hypochlorite
In the detergents’ industry, sodium hypochlorite is mainly used in the production of textile bleaching agents and in sanitation, degreasing and cleaning of various types of surfaces and bathroom fittings as disinfectant. It should be noted that it is forbidden to mix it with hydrochloric acid.
Synthetic hydrochloric acid and hydrochloric acid for food industry
Synthetic hydrochloric acid and hydrochloric acid for the food industry (HCL) is largely used in the manufacture of cleaning, descaling and derusting agents. It is forbidden to mix it with sodium hypochlorite.
Finished products
Apart from raw materials for the production of detergents, the wide offer of PCC Group includes also finished products in the form of professional cleaning agents intended for removing dirt of all kinds. These include technologically advanced cleaning agents, washing liquids and air-fresheners. Adoption of innovative technological solutions in these products enables a wide range of their uses. Owing to efficiency and universality, the products can also be used in machine cleaning. They are well suited to clean floors, glass surfaces and sanitary facilities, professionally clean kitchens and neutralize odours.
PCC Group’s broad product portfolio includes also cleaning, degreasing, descaling agents and disinfectants which are an excellent choice for cleaning and disinfecting kitchen, sanitary facilities and a variety of surfaces.