Detergents & Institutional Cleaning
Detergent and institutional-cleaning formulations combine alkalinity, surfactants, builders and sequestrants, and the balance changes completely between a laundry powder, a heavy-duty degreaser, a clean-in-place (CIP) detergent and a hard-surface spray. This hub sets out what each component does and the specification points worth agreeing before you buy.
What the application needs. Alkalinity saponifies fats, swells protein soils and raises pH so that surfactants work efficiently. Caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) is the strongest and most economical source and is the backbone of CIP, bottle-washing, oven and drain cleaners. Potassium hydroxide is chosen where potassium salts give better solubility, for example in liquid soaps and concentrated liquid detergents. Milder alkalinity and buffering come from soda ash, from trisodium phosphate and from sodium metasilicate, which also helps protect aluminium and glass from etching. Builders and sequestrants control water hardness and keep soil in suspension: sodium hexametaphosphate and tetrasodium pyrophosphate where phosphates are permitted, and sodium gluconate or citrates where they are not. Surfactants such as sodium lauryl sulfate, alkyl polyglucoside and cocamide DEA provide wetting, foam and emulsification, while ethylene glycol monobutyl ether helps cut grease in hard-surface cleaners. Sulfamic and citric acids are the usual choices for acid descalers.
Key specification parameters. For caustic soda, agree the NaOH content (typically 98 to 99% minimum for flakes and pearls) together with sodium carbonate, sodium chloride and iron maxima. For soda ash, specify light or dense grade by bulk density as well as Na2CO3 content and chloride. Phosphates are usually specified by P2O5 content and the pH of a 1% solution, gluconates by assay and reducing sugars, and surfactants by active matter, unsulfated matter, pH at a stated dilution, colour and preservative. Also confirm the regulatory position of the finished product: consumer laundry and automatic dishwasher detergents placed on the EU and GB markets are subject to phosphorus limits under detergents legislation, so check the current thresholds before specifying phosphate builders.
Recommended product types. For CIP and heavy-duty alkaline cleaners, caustic soda pearls dissolve quickly and dose well from automatic feeders, while caustic soda flakes suit batch make-up tanks. Pair either with sodium gluconate for sequestration in hard water, and with a short-chain alkyl polyglucoside, which tolerates high alkalinity well, for wetting. Powder laundry detergents are typically built on soda ash, anhydrous sodium sulfate as a processing aid and filler, silicates, and phosphates or their alternatives. Hand dishwashing liquids generally use an anionic surfactant with an amphoteric or nonionic co-surfactant for foam and mildness.
Handling notes. Caustic soda, potassium hydroxide and sodium metasilicate are corrosive. Wear eye protection with a face shield and alkali-resistant gloves, add solids slowly to cold water while stirring, and never add water to the solid. Store acids and alkalis apart, and keep chlorine-releasing products away from acids. Many alkaline and phosphate salts are hygroscopic and cake when bags are left open, so reseal part-used packs and store them off the floor in a dry area. For form, grade and shipping detail, see our caustic soda buyer's guide in the News section.
Products for Detergents & Institutional Cleaning
Phosphoric Acid
Phosphoric acid (CAS 7664-38-2) is the parent compound of every phosphate salt in the catalogue. A triprotic acid supplied at 75 to 85 percent, it is used directly for metal phosphating, descaling and as a rust converter.
Trisodium Phosphate
Trisodium phosphate, TSP (CAS 7601-54-9), is the fully neutralised sodium phosphate and the most alkaline of the series, dissolving to around pH 12. It is a powerful degreaser and the traditional pre-paint surface cleaner.
Sodium Hexametaphosphate (SHMP)
Sodium hexametaphosphate, SHMP (CAS 10124-56-8), is a glassy polyphosphate that sequesters calcium and magnesium extremely strongly. It is the standard threshold scale inhibitor in cooling water and the deflocculant in ceramic slips.
Dipotassium Hydrogen Phosphate (DKP)
Dipotassium hydrogen phosphate, DKP (CAS 7758-11-4), is the alkaline potassium phosphate. In industry it supplies both potassium and phosphorus in a single soluble salt, which suits fertigation and fermentation media.
Potassium Dihydrogen Phosphate (MKP)
Potassium dihydrogen phosphate, MKP (CAS 7778-77-0), is the 0-52-34 soluble fertiliser, supplying phosphorus and potassium with no nitrogen at all. That makes it the standard choice for flowering and fruiting stages.
Disodium Hydrogen Phosphate (DSP)
Disodium hydrogen phosphate, DSP (CAS 7558-79-4), is the middle sodium phosphate, alkaline at around pH 9. In industry it is a buffer, a detergent builder and a boiler water treatment that prevents hard scale.
Sodium Dihydrogen Phosphate (MSP)
Sodium dihydrogen phosphate, MSP (CAS 7558-80-7), is the acidic sodium phosphate, dissolving to around pH 4.5. It is the acid half of the phosphate buffer pair and a mild acidulant for industrial processes.
Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate (TSPP)
Tetrasodium pyrophosphate, TSPP (CAS 7722-88-5), is the simplest condensed phosphate, formed by joining two phosphate units. Alkaline and strongly dispersing, it is used as a detergent builder and a drilling mud thinner.
Monoammonium Phosphate (MAP)
Monoammonium phosphate, MAP (CAS 7722-76-1), is the 11-52-0 fertiliser grade with the highest phosphorus content of the common straight phosphates. It is also the active powder in ABC dry chemical fire extinguishers.
Diammonium Phosphate (DAP)
Diammonium phosphate, DAP (CAS 7783-28-0), is the 18-46-0 fertiliser and the most traded phosphate fertiliser in the world. Unlike MAP it dissolves to an alkaline solution, which matters on high-pH soils.
Dicalcium Phosphate (DCP)
Dicalcium phosphate, DCP (CAS 7757-93-9), is a white insoluble powder supplying calcium and phosphorus in roughly the ratio bone uses them. Its largest market is animal feed, where it is the standard mineral supplement.
Tricalcium Phosphate (TCP)
Tricalcium phosphate, TCP (CAS 7758-87-4), is a very fine insoluble powder with a high specific surface area. That surface area is what makes it one of the most effective anticaking agents available for hygroscopic powders.
Manganese Sulfate
Manganese sulfate (CAS 7785-87-7) supplies manganese, an essential micronutrient required in the photosynthetic complex that splits water. Deficiency shows as interveinal chlorosis on young leaves, unlike magnesium deficiency.
Magnesium Sulfate
Magnesium sulfate, Epsom salt as the heptahydrate (CAS 10034-99-8), is the cheapest soluble magnesium source. Grade is selected by hydration state, since the heptahydrate and the monohydrate differ substantially in magnesium content.
Zinc Sulfate
Zinc sulfate (CAS 7733-02-0) supplies zinc, the micronutrient most often deficient in cereals worldwide. Zinc availability collapses on alkaline and high-phosphate soils, which is where correction is usually needed.
Ammonium Sulfate
Ammonium sulfate (CAS 7783-20-2) is a 21-0-0 fertiliser that supplies sulphur alongside nitrogen. Its acidifying reaction in soil is a genuine agronomic tool on alkaline ground and a drawback on already acid soils.
Copper Sulfate
Copper sulfate pentahydrate (CAS 7758-99-8) is the bright blue crystalline copper salt. It is an algaecide, a fungicide and the copper source in Bordeaux mixture, and it is highly toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Sodium Sulfate Anhydrous
Sodium sulfate anhydrous (CAS 7757-82-6) is a chemically inert, non-hygroscopic white powder. It is used in enormous volume as a detergent filler and, in textile dyeing, to drive dye onto the fibre rather than leave it in the bath.
Sodium Bisulfate
Sodium bisulfate (CAS 7681-38-1) is a dry acid: a solid salt that dissolves to give a strongly acidic solution near pH 1. It replaces liquid mineral acid wherever handling concentrated acid is the thing to avoid.
Alum
Alum, aluminium sulfate (CAS 10043-01-3), is the classic coagulant of municipal water treatment. Dosed into raw water it hydrolyses to aluminium hydroxide floc, which sweeps suspended solids and colour out of suspension.
Ferrous Sulfate
Ferrous sulfate (CAS 7720-78-7) is iron in the reduced divalent state, which is what makes it useful. It reduces hexavalent chromium in cement to the harmless trivalent form, preventing chromate contact dermatitis in workers.
Sodium Metabisulfite
Sodium metabisulfite (CAS 7681-57-4) is the solid, more stable and more concentrated form of the bisulfite chemistry. It is preferred where a dry material is easier to ship and store than a bulk sulfite solution.
Sodium Thiosulfate
Sodium thiosulfate (CAS 7772-98-7) is the classic photographic fixer, hypo, and a fast dechlorinating agent. It also reacts with cyanide to form far less toxic thiocyanate, which is the basis of its medical use as an antidote.
Sodium Sulfite Anhydrous
Sodium sulfite anhydrous (CAS 7757-83-7) is the neutral-to-alkaline member of the sulfite family. It scavenges oxygen without driving pH down, which is why it is the boiler feedwater choice where acidity would corrode.
Sodium Bisulfite
Sodium bisulfite (CAS 7631-90-5) is a reducing agent and oxygen scavenger, supplied as a solution or solid. Its largest single use is dechlorinating water ahead of reverse osmosis membranes, which chlorine destroys.
Oxalic Acid
Oxalic acid (CAS 144-62-7) is the strongest common organic acid and a powerful reducing agent. It removes iron stains by chelating iron into a soluble complex, which is why it bleaches wood and cleans rust marks.
Sodium Carbonate (Soda Ash)
Sodium carbonate (CAS 497-19-8), soda ash, is consumed in greater tonnage by glass manufacture than by every other use combined. It lowers the melting point of silica from about 1,700 to nearer 1,000 degrees Celsius.
Ammonium Bicarbonate
Ammonium bicarbonate (CAS 1066-33-7) decomposes completely to gas at modest temperature, leaving no solid residue at all. That makes it a chemical blowing agent for foamed rubber, plastics and ceramics.
Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SLS)
Sodium dodecyl sulfate (CAS 151-21-3) is the standard laboratory anionic detergent as well as an industrial surfactant. In SDS-PAGE it denatures proteins and coats them with uniform negative charge so they separate purely by size.
Sodium Bicarbonate
Sodium bicarbonate (CAS 144-55-8) is used industrially as a dry sorbent and a mild abrasive. Injected into hot flue gas it decomposes into a highly porous soda that captures sulphur dioxide and hydrogen chloride.
Sodium Metasilicate
Sodium metasilicate is a strongly alkaline silicate that protects aluminium while cleaning it. The silicate deposits a thin film on the metal surface, which is why alkaline aluminium cleaners contain it and plain caustic cannot be used.
Sulfamic Acid
Sulfamic acid (CAS 5329-14-6) is a solid, non-volatile strong acid used for descaling. Unlike hydrochloric acid it contains no chloride, so it can be used on stainless steel without risking chloride stress corrosion cracking.
Sodium Citrate
Sodium citrate (CAS 68-04-2) is the neutral salt of citric acid, used industrially as a sequestrant and buffer where free acid would attack the substrate. It chelates without dropping pH.
Citric Acid
Citric acid (CAS 77-92-9) is used industrially as a chelating agent rather than as an acidulant. It binds calcium, iron and copper into soluble complexes, which is the basis of its use in descaling and metal passivation.
Sodium Acetate
Sodium acetate (CAS 127-09-3) is the salt behind reusable heat pads. A supersaturated solution stays liquid far below its freezing point, then crystallises on a trigger and releases the stored heat.
Sodium Benzoate
Sodium benzoate (CAS 532-32-1) is a vapour-phase and contact corrosion inhibitor for ferrous metals. In engine coolants and hydraulic fluids it passivates steel surfaces at low dose without the toxicity of chromate inhibitors.
Benzoic Acid
Benzoic acid (CAS 65-85-0) is used industrially as a chemical intermediate and corrosion inhibitor rather than as a preservative. It is the feedstock for phenol, caprolactam and benzoate plasticisers.
Potassium Benzoate
Potassium benzoate (CAS 582-25-2) delivers the same benzoate chemistry as the sodium salt without contributing sodium. It is specified where sodium would raise conductivity or interfere with the system being protected.
Potassium Carbonate
Potassium carbonate (CAS 584-08-7), potash, is the reagent behind the hot potassium carbonate process for removing carbon dioxide from industrial gas streams at high pressure and temperature.
Sodium Propionate
Sodium propionate (CAS 137-40-6) is the more soluble propionate salt, which suits liquid dosing and spray application. It is used where a calcium contribution would be unwanted or would disturb a formulation.
Ammonium Propionate
Ammonium propionate (CAS 17496-08-1) is supplied as a solution rather than a powder because it is deliquescent. It preserves high-moisture grain while contributing non-protein nitrogen that rumen microbes can use.
Calcium Acetate
Calcium acetate (CAS 62-54-4) is used industrially as a chloride-free concrete set accelerator, a phosphate binder, and the agent that gels alcohol into the solid fuel burned in chafing dish heaters.
Calcium Propionate
Calcium propionate (CAS 4075-81-4) is used industrially as a mould inhibitor in animal feed and stored grain. It also acts as a mild set retarder and corrosion inhibitor in concrete formulations.
Potassium Acetate
Potassium acetate (CAS 127-08-2) is the standard runway and aircraft de-icer. Unlike chloride de-icers it does not corrode aluminium airframes or attack the carbon brake assemblies that chlorides destroy.
Zinc Acetate
Zinc acetate (CAS 557-34-6) is a soluble zinc salt used as a crosslinker, mordant and wood preservative. Its solubility in both water and organic solvents sets it apart from the oxide and carbonate.
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Sodium dehydroacetate (CAS 4418-26-2, INCI Sodium Dehydroacetate) is a broad-spectrum cosmetic preservative that stays active at near-neutral pH, where benzoate and sorbate have largely stopped working.
Borax
Borax (CAS 1303-96-4) is sodium tetraborate, the buffering and fluxing borate. It is classified as a reproductive toxicant in the EU, which has restricted its consumer use without affecting its industrial position.
Calcium Hydroxide
Calcium hydroxide (CAS 1305-62-0), hydrated or slaked lime, is the cheapest bulk alkali available. It is only slightly soluble, which is precisely what makes lime slurry a self-buffering pH control reagent.
Calcium Chloride
Calcium chloride (CAS 10043-52-4) dissolves with a strong exothermic reaction, releasing heat rather than absorbing it. That is why it melts ice faster than salt and keeps working at far lower temperatures.
Glucose
Glucose (CAS 50-99-7) is used industrially as a fermentation feedstock and as a reducing agent. In electroless and mirror silvering it reduces silver ions to metal, depositing a coherent film without any electric current.
Caustic Soda Pearls
Caustic soda pearls (CAS 1310-73-2) are sodium hydroxide in small spherical beads at 99 percent minimum. The round form flows freely, generates far less dust than flakes and cakes more slowly on storage.
Potassium Hydroxide
Potassium hydroxide (CAS 1310-58-3), caustic potash, is the potassium analogue of caustic soda. The difference in cation matters: potassium soaps are soft and soluble where sodium soaps are hard.
Maltodextrin
Maltodextrin (CAS 9050-36-6) is starch hydrolysed to a dextrose equivalent below 20. Industrially it is bought as a carrier and encapsulating wall material rather than as a sweetener, because it is bland and film-forming.
Bone Glue
Bone glue is animal collagen hydrolysed further than gelatine, giving lower gel strength and a darker colour. It remains in use in furniture restoration because the joint it makes is reversible with heat and moisture.
Gelatine
Gelatine (CAS 9000-70-8) is partially hydrolysed collagen, graded by Bloom strength. Its industrial uses depend on its ability to form a thermoreversible gel and to adsorb strongly onto surfaces and crystals.
Xanthan Gum
Xanthan gum (CAS 11138-66-2) is used industrially for its shear-thinning behaviour and its tolerance of salt. In drilling fluids it suspends cuttings at rest yet thins under the pump, which is exactly what a mud must do.
Zinc Chloride
Zinc chloride (CAS 7646-85-7) is the active ingredient of soldering flux. It dissolves the oxide film on a metal surface at soldering temperature so the molten solder can wet the bare metal underneath.
Zinc Oxide
Zinc oxide (CAS 1314-13-2) is consumed in greater tonnage by the rubber industry than by all its other uses combined. It activates the sulphur vulcanisation system, without which accelerators barely work at all.
Alkyl Polyglucoside (APG)
Alkyl polyglucoside (CAS 68515-73-1, INCI Coco-Glucoside) is the rare non-ionic surfactant that stays effective in strong caustic. That alkali stability is why it is specified in heavy-duty and CIP cleaning formulations.
Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)
Polydimethylsiloxane (CAS 63148-62-9) is the basic silicone fluid, built on a silicon-oxygen backbone rather than a carbon one. That backbone is what gives it thermal stability and a viscosity that barely changes with temperature.
Isobornyl Acetate
Isobornyl acetate (CAS 125-12-2) is a terpene ester with a clean, fresh pine and camphor odour. It is the standard synthetic replacement for pine needle oil in functional fragrance, where cost and stability rule out the natural.
Calcium Fluoride
Calcium fluoride (CAS 7789-75-5) is the raw material behind essentially every fluorine compound in commerce. Acid grade fluorspar at over 97 percent CaF2 is converted to hydrogen fluoride, and everything fluorinated follows from that.
Fluorite (Fluorspar)
Fluorite, traded as fluorspar, is the mineral form of calcium fluoride. It is sold in two grades that are not interchangeable: acid grade above 97 percent for chemical conversion, metallurgical grade for steel fluxing.
Perlite Ore Sand
Perlite ore is a volcanic glass containing bound water. Heated rapidly past 850 degrees Celsius that water flashes to steam and expands the softened glass up to twenty times, producing a lightweight cellular particle.
Plasticiser
Plasticiser is a class rather than a single product, covering phthalates, terephthalates, adipates, trimellitates and bio-based esters. Selection is a trade-off between efficiency, permanence, cold flexibility and regulatory status.
Sulfur
Sulfur (CAS 7704-34-9) is almost entirely a recovered by-product now, stripped from natural gas and crude oil to meet emissions law. Around 85 percent of world output goes straight into sulphuric acid.
DOTP - Dioctyl Terephthalate
Dioctyl terephthalate, DOTP (CAS 6422-86-2), is the direct non-phthalate replacement for DOP. It is chemically an isomer, differing only in where the two ester groups sit on the benzene ring, but it is not a phthalate.
Caustic Soda Flakes
Caustic soda flakes (CAS 1310-73-2) are sodium hydroxide in thin flake form at 99 percent minimum. The large surface area dissolves fast, but it also makes the flakes dusty and quick to absorb atmospheric moisture.
Sodium Gluconate
Sodium gluconate (CAS 527-07-1) is a chelating agent that keeps working in strong alkali, where EDTA and phosphates fail. That single property makes it the standard sequestrant for caustic cleaning and bottle washing.
Cocamide DEA (CDEA)
Cocamide DEA (CAS 68603-42-9) is a non-ionic foam booster and thickener made from coconut fatty acids and diethanolamine. Its regulatory position varies by market, so permitted status should be confirmed before it is specified.
EB - Ethylene Glycol Monobutyl Ether
Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, EB or butyl glycol (CAS 111-76-2), is the workhorse of the ethylene series. Unlike the short-chain methyl and ethyl homologues it is not classified as a reproductive toxicant, so it remains in wide use.
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