Abstract:
Synthetic detergents had developed
in the beginning of 20th century and
started making inroads into the area
earlier served by washing compounds
i.e. soaps made traditionally from oils/
fats and caustic soda. Since soaps have
comparatively lesser washing
characteristics in hard water than
synthetic detergents, synthetic washing
compounds have been able to occupy
a significant market which was enjoyed
by washing soaps earlier. The term
detergents which originated from the
Latin word detergine (i.e. to wipe off), is
now a days applied to all synthetic
washing compounds. Synthetic
detergents are not only used as cleaning
materials but also have industrial
applications in textiles, pesticide
industry as carriers, etc.
