Abstract:
Synthetic detergents have developed
in the beginning of 20th Century and
started making in-roads 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
detergent originated from the latin word
detergine (i.e. wipe off), is now-a-days
applied to all synthetic washing
compounds. Synthetic detergent is not
only used as household cleaning
material but also have industrial
applications in textiles, pesticide
industry as carriers, etc.
