RogueRose
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Thickeners in cleaning solutions - what are they?
I've used a number of cleaning solutions where the liquid is thicker than normal water and the active ingredient has a fluidity almost identical to
water, so there must be something else in the solution. One example is toilet bowl cleaner. Active ingredient is HCl and nothing else is listed but
the stuff comes out like a thin syrup (so it sticks to the bowl). I have looked at the MSDS of a number of these products and it doesn't list anything
besides HCl.
Does anyone know what may be used to thicken this? Guar gum, Gum arabic, propylene glycol?
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NEMO-Chemistry
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Quote: Originally posted by RogueRose  | I've used a number of cleaning solutions where the liquid is thicker than normal water and the active ingredient has a fluidity almost identical to
water, so there must be something else in the solution. One example is toilet bowl cleaner. Active ingredient is HCl and nothing else is listed but
the stuff comes out like a thin syrup (so it sticks to the bowl). I have looked at the MSDS of a number of these products and it doesn't list anything
besides HCl.
Does anyone know what may be used to thicken this? Guar gum, Gum arabic, propylene glycol? |
Dont quote me on this but, i think the reason they dont list the ingredients is because if under a certain % the MSD dosnt have to list it and its
classed as a minor component.
It can be really annoying at times, for example trying to find out what anti caking agent is used in a table salt, or what else is in washing soda
apart from upto90% sodium carbonate.
Thos are two recent ones i have had trouble finding out, the washing soda one is a bit sneaky, i have a feeling its pretty much sodium carbonate and
the bit they leave out the MSD is the water!
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violet sin
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also consider, if the substance in non-toxic/dangerous, it doesn't have to be listed in a material SAFETY data sheet. many additives are free from
the need to disclose and are proprietary in nature. you could ask the company, but I have had HORRIBLE results in that regard. even stating intent,
affirming it is a non-business venture and a final offer to personally sign and mail in a non-disclosure document, won't even get a response as to yes
or no. But it never hurts to ask, and don't forget to try looking up company patents. in some cases that works nicely.
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argyrium
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Some common thickeners are cellulose ethers. Pemulen, xanthan gum, and silicone gels are common in cosmetics.
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RogueRose
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| Quote: Originally posted by NEMO-Chemistry | | Quote: Originally posted by RogueRose | I've used a number of cleaning solutions where the liquid is thicker than normal water and the active ingredient has a fluidity almost identical to
water, so there must be something else in the solution. One example is toilet bowl cleaner. Active ingredient is HCl and nothing else is listed but
the stuff comes out like a thin syrup (so it sticks to the bowl). I have looked at the MSDS of a number of these products and it doesn't list anything
besides HCl.
Does anyone know what may be used to thicken this? Guar gum, Gum arabic, propylene glycol? |
Dont quote me on this but, i think the reason they dont list the ingredients is because if under a certain % the MSD dosnt have to list it and its
classed as a minor component.
It can be really annoying at times, for example trying to find out what anti caking agent is used in a table salt, or what else is in washing soda
apart from upto90% sodium carbonate.
Thos are two recent ones i have had trouble finding out, the washing soda one is a bit sneaky, i have a feeling its pretty much sodium carbonate and
the bit they leave out the MSD is the water! |
If you are talking about A&H washing soda, then it is 89.5% carbonate and the rest is the hydrate. It took me a little while to figure that out
as well. I guess they could list it as 100% (99.99??) if they wanted and just put they hydrate type.
OR the rest is bi-carb (since they produce so much bicarb, I suspect they make the carb from that so maybe some is unreacted..?) If it is thus, I'm
not happy.
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argyrium
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I had meant to add the polyacrylic acids (e.g.Carbopol) as well.
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macckone
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Some solutions use glucose or sucrose as a thickener.
polypropylene glycol is also popular.
even sodium silicate is used.
Basically anything generally recognized as safe can be added.
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NEMO-Chemistry
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No where i live in Scotland it seems every shop sell D&P brand of washing soda. It says it has an anti caking agent but cant be much in it as the
bag sets solid in a couple weeks without opening  .
Going to recrystallise for the hell of it anyway.
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PHILOU Zrealone
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For soaps and laundry wash liquid, at Procter & Gamble, we used NaCl to increase viscosity aside sometimes with texturants (depending onto the
product and brand: carbo polymers, polyethers, silicone oils, ...) some products holding a lot of ingredients (>20)...
[Edited on 27-7-2016 by PHILOU Zrealone]
PH Z (PHILOU Zrealone)
"Physic is all what never works; Chemistry is all what stinks and explodes!"-"Life that deadly disease, sexually transmitted."(W.Allen)
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NEMO-Chemistry
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| Quote: Originally posted by PHILOU Zrealone | For soaps and laundry wash liquid, at Procter & Gamble, we used NaCl to increase viscosity aside sometimes with texturants (depending onto the
product and brand: carbo polymers, polyethers, silicone oils, ...) some products holding a lot of ingredients (>20)...
[Edited on 27-7-2016 by PHILOU Zrealone] |
Now that really surprises me! I would never guess that many compounds in a cleaning product. I tend to go for the ultra cheap stuff, the theory being
with stuff like bleach the cheaper the price the less stuff they put in.
Although all local sources of acetone are now gone! Its some other horrible gel stuff. So looks like i will have to buy online.
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