Hardwater Tolerance of Mixed Surfactant Systems Containing Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate and Decyl Polyglucoside

The non-ionic glucoside surfactants afforded a potential alternate to the cleaning and washing commodity market exhibiting effective hard water tolerance. The objective of this research is to evaluate the efficiency of the mixed micelles of glucoside-sodium dodecyl sulfate surfactant for estimation of water hardness. The suitability of the glucoside surfactant for the lime soap dispersion ability was determined through the mixed micellization studies. The effect of incorporation of synthesized decyl polyglucoside to the anionic sodium dodecyl sulphate surfactant on the water hardness tolerance has been investigated through nephelometric measurements. No turbidity was observed upto 350 ppm hardness of water beyond 10% level of incorporation of APG10. A plot of turbidity against water hardness for 1:0, 4:1, 2:1 and 1:1 calcium to magnesium ratio revealed a linear variation of turbidity with hardness for a fixed surfactant concentration at 2.5 mM. In comparison, Decyl polyglucoside was found to be better in hardwater tolerance than anionic surfactants. Hence, with moderate foaming, decyl glucoside would be better surfactant for making detergents to face water crisis.