How Are Detergents Made?

Ingredients

• Detergents are a combination of synthetic chemicals that include ingredients such as surfactants that work well in hard water. Petrochemicals and oleochemicals are ingredients that are attracted to oils and grease. Water is used to combine the ingredients.

Liquid Detergents

• The ingredients are dissolved in water and then added to a solution of water and chemicals called solubilizers that helps blend the mixture evenly. The finished product is packaged.

Dry Detergents

• There are three methods used to make dry detergent. In the slurry method the semiliquid mixture is pumped into the top of a cone shaped container while hot air is pumped into the bottom. The resulting pellets of dried detergent drop to the bottom of the container ready for packaging.

  In the blender method the ingredients are shaken or scraped with large blades until the ingredients are blended and are the appropriate size. The finished mixture travels on a conveyor belt and is dropped off into packaging.

  In the agglomeration method dry ingredients are chopped and mixed by large blades into a fine consistency. Liquid ingredients are sprayed from nozzles and an exothermic, heat-producing, reaction occurs liquifying all the ingredients. The liquid flows from the machine onto a conveyor belt where heat, blowers and hot air solidifies the mixture. It is than crushed and pushed through screens and is ready for packaging.