Home Cosmetic Science Talk Formulating General Use of LAS as an anionic surfactant.

  • Use of LAS as an anionic surfactant.

    Posted by mikethair on November 30, 2017 at 5:00 am
    In a previous post I asked about a suitable cleaner for our filling machine when we are bottling Hair Conditioner. It was suggested that I should use an anionic cleaner, and NP 9 was suggested.
    All I can find here (in small quantities) is Linear alkylbenzene sulphonate (LAS) which is an anionic surfactant.
    Anyone have any experience with LAS?  What would be a suitable concentration for our filling machine cleaning?
    Thanks.
    DAS replied 6 years, 5 months ago 3 Members · 6 Replies
  • 6 Replies
  • Chemist77

    Member
    November 30, 2017 at 5:39 am

    Not knowing too much about your conditioner, I suggest that you try to wash a lab beaker/vessel with LAS and where you would apply a little conditioner to the walls and bottom of the beaker/vessel. LAS is used extensively in H&I and I use it for my dishwash liquid in neutralized form. If there is no complexation of LAS/NP9 mixture with your cationic (which I doubt might happen) then you can give it a try. Note that it is an acid and very corrosive so even that might pose an issue to your filling machine parts. I remember @Bill_Toge and @DRBOB@VERDIENT.BIZ  advising you on the same and those looked  good enough measures IMO. 
    Surely someone can chip in with a better perception here, @chemicalmatt generally comes to mind in such ‘nowhere to go’ situations. 

  • DAS

    Member
    November 30, 2017 at 5:14 pm

    It does lots of foam and it is agressive. Given the nature of you product I suggest you aim for detergents used in reactors for milk and cheese production. I think SC Johnson makes them, and since they are for food grade machinery the components and quantities are in the label.

  • mikethair

    Member
    December 1, 2017 at 2:31 am

    Yes @Chemist77 acid indeed. At 1% the pH was around 2. Will pose problems probably in our bottling machine.

    @DAS  the natureof our product requires something anionic (I think). Will search for other alternatives.

  • DAS

    Member
    December 1, 2017 at 3:53 am

    I was thinking about, lets say a thorough inspection. You can rub the certificate over the inspectors face, regardless the kind of surfactants you use.

    SLES 25% is not good enough?. Anionic, cheap, neutral and easy to find. That and hot water. By the way NP has great detergency, but is nonionic. 

  • mikethair

    Member
    December 2, 2017 at 9:38 pm

    Good suggestion @DAS will give SLES 25% a go.

  • DAS

    Member
    December 3, 2017 at 1:57 am

    You should mix it with a few drops of dimethicone or any foam killer. Otherwise it will take time to clean the foam afterwards.

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