-
My dishwashing liquid separates after a week
I’ve been trying to make an dishwashing liquid my problem is it becomes turbid and eventually separates into 2 layers after a week. Could this be a preservative or compatibility issue? as of now i’m using benzalkonium chloride 50% as a biocide and antibacterial agent This is my formula:
9.09% SLES
0.9% LABS
0.9% CDEA
0.9% Coco Betaine
0.3% Benzalkonium Chloride
18.2% Salt
0.5% Fragrance
0.5% Colorant
68.71% Purified Waterthe Product is clear and viscous after formulating then it turns turbid in about 5-6 days and eventually separates into 2 layer.
-
30 Replies
-
18.2% Salt? If so it is way too much
-
thanks for the quick reply @Chi_n i adjusted salt to meet the desired viscosity i wanted adding salt in parts of 10 grams without clouding the solution. if salt is way too much here are there any alternative to solve viscosity issues? thanks!
-
by the way i also experimented using SLS/SLES formula with the same amount of salt and used sodium benzoate as preservative. i didnt have any separating layer issue’s but my product produced a low grease cutting ability. That’s why i decided to replace SLS with LABS and switched sodium benzoate with Benzalkonium chloride(for additional claims). i add LABS when SLES is completely dissolved an water i think this is what they consider in situ neutalarization (correct me if im wrong). i havent test for the final pH of the product though. but im expecting it having a pH of 7-8 because of ammount of SLES to LABS currently in my formula.
-
hello @Perry thanks for your inputs. ill try these. i tried adding salt in little amounts until i got the desired viscosity without clouding the solution. the solution turns out to be pretty thick with the viscosity i want but everything just happens to separate into layer by a week or so. So this is most likely a compatibility issue rather than microbial issue because of the excess salt?
-
SLES, LABSA anionic, BKC cationic. End of.
-
thanks for your input @Chemist77
-
can you show us the pic
-
-
here are the pictures @smok. right side (product 1-3 days from production) left side (product after 5th-6th day). first picture product after 7th day
-
any good preservative i can add i believe i have a pH arround 8-9. im using sodium benzoate but upon searching sodium benzoate is effective at pH range below 5.5 anything above pH 7.00 has 0% activity
-
i don’t know if you understand my bad english google
the first thing
I think it’s a phisic problem and not chemic…the condicionement of your product
heat or cold
the second thing to check the prfum always is the problem of separation setrain company melange anything to diliuer the perfume
in my formula i put labsa double of sles then you have to increase dea
never add the sles before regulations of ph -
i made a wrong calculation my bad. salt is only 2.2%. here is the corrected formula
9.09% SLES
0.9% LABS
0.9% CDEA
0.9% Coco Betaine
0.3% Benzalkonium Chloride
2.2% Salt
0.5% Fragrance
0.5% Colorant
84.71% Purified Water -
i see. my process is fully dissolve SLES in water then add colorant, fragrance then i add LABS then CDEA and CAPB then add salt at 2.2% or until desired viscosity. this is done at Room temperature about 26-28 degrees Celsius
-
noadd labs then ph regulation with tea or costic then sles…..
-
Agree, neutralize LABS first then add SLES. You can use phenoxyethanol which is effective in wide range of pH
-
Thanks for your comments. Ill try all neutralizing labsa first before adding sles
-
@Chi_n should i use phenoxyethanol with other preservatives? Based on my understanding phenoxtethanol is only effective against gram negative bacteria and ineffective against yeast and molds. Will lowering the pH with citric acid and using sodium benzaote do the trick?
-
Update after adding sodium benzoate pH of product dropped to 3.58.
-
Yes, phenoxyethanol should be combined with other preservatives, ethylhexylglycerin or benzisothiazolin, both work in wide pH range. You may need to add a chelant to boost its activity.
Remember for soil cleaning/degreasing detergent works best at alkaline pH. So not sure if you want to sacrifice your dishwashing performance to have sodium benzoate in the formula. -
Thanks for your inputs @Chi_n ill try to formulate at higher pH range and compare performance.
-
giddie15 said:i made a wrong calculation my bad. salt is only 2.2%. here is the corrected formula
9.09% SLES
0.9% LABS
0.9% CDEA
0.9% Coco Betaine
0.3% Benzalkonium Chloride
2.2% Salt
0.5% Fragrance
0.5% Colorant
84.71% Purified WaterMake sure that’s 9% active SLES, and not SLES as-supplied which only contains 70 or 30% SLES
What’s there to neutralize LABSA?
Otherwise it would become too acidicDon’t blindly add salt
Make a salt curve analysis to determine the optimum amount -
Thanks for your inputs gunther. My sles is in weight basis and i use sles 70% ill readjust this to get a 9% active
-
Any thoughts on using methyl paraben as preservative here?
-
Point is that benzalkonium chloride is cationic and SLES/LABSA anionic. Anything you do to adjust the formula isn’t going to work unless you take out the quat.
Log in to reply.