Concentrated Dishwashing Liquid

Ingredients

Ingredient	INCI / Description	% w/w	Function	Addition Order
Deionized water	Aqua	59.0	Solvent	1
SLES (70%, 2 EO)	Sodium laureth sulfate	18.0	Primary anionic surfactant	2
CAPB (30%)	Cocamidopropyl betaine	10.0	Amphoteric co-surfactant, foam stabilizer	3
Alcohol ethoxylate (C12–15, 7 EO)	C12-15 pareth-7	3.0	Grease-cutting nonionic	4
Hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC)	Hydroxyethylcellulose	0.8	Rheology modifier	5
Glycerin	Glycerin	2.0	Humectant, skin mildness aid	6
Citric acid (anhydrous)	Citric acid	0.3	pH buffer	7
Sodium chloride	Sodium chloride	0.5	Viscosity fine-tuning	8
Tetrasodium EDTA	Tetrasodium EDTA	0.2	Chelating agent, water softener	9
Colorant	CI 42090	0.003	Aesthetic	10
Fragrance	Fragrance (parfum)	0.4	Sensory	11
Preservative (MIT/CMIT 3:1)	Methylisothiazolinone (blend)	0.08	Microbial stability	12
Total		~100

Addition Order & Process

Procedure: Disperse HEC in deionized water using high-shear mixing (800–1000 rpm) for 20 min; allow 30 min hydration time. Add SLES and mix at 400 rpm until homogeneous. Add CAPB and AE in sequence, mixing 10 min between additions. Add glycerin, citric acid, EDTA, and sodium chloride in order. Adjust pH to 6.5–7.0 with citric acid or dilute NaOH. Add colorant, fragrance, and preservative last with gentle mixing (200 rpm) to avoid foam entrainment.

Formulation Notes

This mid-tier formulation introduces CAPB as an amphoteric co-surfactant, broadens the nonionic content with a mid-range alcohol ethoxylate, and uses citric acid for pH buffering. Total active matter of 18–22% permits dilution ratios of 1:500 to 1:800 for general dishwashing while still delivering acceptable foam mileage. A cellulose-based thickener (hydroxyethyl cellulose, HEC) provides viscosity independent of electrolyte concentration, yielding more robust rheological stability across temperature cycles.

Formulation Card FC-8.1-M: Concentrated Dishwashing Liquid

Properties: Active matter 20.0% ± 1.0%; pH 6.5–7.0 (10% solution); viscosity 500–800 cP (Brookfield LV, spindle #3, 30 rpm, 25°C). Foam height (Ross-Miles, 0.25%, 40°C) 190 ± 10 mm; foam after soil addition (Baumgartner soil, 2 g/L) 140 ± 10 mm. Grease removal (Baumgartner, 15 min, 0.75 g/L) ≥ 85%.

Notes: The SLES:CAPB ratio of approximately 4.2:1 (on an as-supplied basis) maximizes foam stability while CAPP mitigates the irritancy potential of the sulfate surfactant. The 3% AE content provides a measurable boost in grease cutting compared to FC-8.1-E (estimated +12–15% improvement in Baumgartner soil removal) at the cost of a modest reduction in initial foam height. HEC thickening yields a pseudoplastic rheology that facilitates pouring while maintaining cling on inclined dish surfaces.