FC-8.1-P
Premium Dishwashing Liquid
Ingredients
| Ingredient | INCI / Description | % w/w | Function | Addition Order |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deionized water | Aqua | 46.0 | Solvent | 1 |
| SLES (70%, 2 EO) | Sodium laureth sulfate | 20.0 | Primary anionic surfactant | 2 |
| CAPB (30%) | Cocamidopropyl betaine | 12.0 | Amphoteric co-surfactant | 3 |
| APG (C8–C14, 50%) | Caprylyl/Capryl glucoside | 8.0 | Nonionic, mildness booster | 4 |
| Alcohol ethoxylate (C12–15, 7 EO) | C12-15 pareth-7 | 4.0 | Grease-cutting nonionic | 5 |
| Cocamide DEA | Cocamide DEA | 3.0 | Foam booster, viscosity builder | 6 |
| Glycerin | Glycerin | 5.0 | Humectant, skin care additive | 7 |
| Citric acid (anhydrous) | Citric acid | 0.2 | pH buffer | 8 |
| Tetrasodium EDTA | Tetrasodium EDTA | 0.2 | Chelating agent | 9 |
| Sodium chloride | Sodium chloride | 0.3 | Viscosity fine-tuning | 10 |
| Colorant | CI 47005 | 0.003 | Aesthetic | 11 |
| Premium fragrance | Fragrance (parfum) | 0.5 | Sensory | 12 |
| Preservative (phenoxyethanol) | Phenoxyethanol | 0.5 | Microbial stability | 13 |
| Total | ~100 |
Addition Order & Process
Formulation Notes
The premium tier integrates APG surfactants for enhanced skin mildness and environmental profile, coconut diethanolamide (CDEA, also called cocamide DEA) as a foam booster and viscosity builder, and elevated glycerin content for post-wash skin hydration. Total active matter of 22–28% is at the upper range of the hand-dishwashing category. This formulation targets consumers with sensitive skin and those willing to pay a price premium for perceived green credentials.
Formulation Card FC-8.1-P: Premium Dishwashing Liquid
Properties: Active matter 25.0% ± 1.0%; pH 6.5–7.0; viscosity 800–1,200 cP (Brookfield LV, spindle #3, 12 rpm, 25°C). Foam height (Ross-Miles, 0.25%, 40°C) 205 ± 10 mm. Grease removal (Baumgartner, 15 min, 0.75 g/L) ≥ 92%. Zein test (protein solubilization, surrogate for skin mildness) < 15% protein solubilized, indicating mild irritation potential .
Notes: The APG content of 4% active (8% as 50% solution) reduces the overall irritation score by approximately 30% relative to FC-8.1-M in the Zein solubilization assay . Cocamide DEA contributes both foam stability and a characteristic pearlescent viscosity; however, formulators should ensure that the diethanolamine content meets regional regulatory limits for N-nitrosamine formation potential. The elevated glycerin content (5%) leaves a perceptible moisturizing film on hands after rinsing, which is a key consumer benefit claim for this tier.
The progression from economical to premium dishwashing liquid demonstrates the trade-off between formulation cost and multifunctional performance. FC-8.1-E achieves basic cleaning with minimal ingredient count; its primary limitation is the single-surfactant (LABSA-dominant) system, which produces adequate foam but limited tolerance to hard water and heavy grease. FC-8.1-M adds CAPB and a nonionic AE, delivering a measurable improvement in both foam stability (+15% in Ross-Miles height) and grease removal (+10–17 percentage points in Baumgartner efficiency). The HEC thickener also decouples viscosity from electrolyte concentration, improving formulation robustness. FC-8.1-P further extends the surfactant system with APG and cocamide DEA, yielding the highest foam stability and grease removal while simultaneously improving the skin mildness profile. The glycerin addition addresses a sensory benefit—hand feel after washing—that is increasingly valued by consumers in the premium segment but is difficult to quantify in standard performance tests.