Rice husk ash based complex sodium di silicate – An alternative detergent builder for sodium tripolyphosphate and Zeolite 4A

Detergent builder is an essential part of any detergent powder, as it softens the hard water which hinders the cleaning action of surfactants. Nowadays, sodium tripolyphosphate and Zeolite 4A are used as detergent builders extensively in detergent formulation. Though STPP has higher capacities to remove hardness from the water but has a detrimental impact on the environment like eutrophication and hence it has been banned for detergent application in various countries. Zeolite 4A is currently leading the detergent industry with moderate hardness removal, but it has certain disadvantages like high pH, insolubility, high solid residue in the wash water and needs additives for its activation in the detergent formulation. In this research paper, the better alternative detergent builder known as Complex sodium dislicate (CSDS) is produced using rice husk ash-based sodium silicate. Further CSDS is analyzed using SEM, XRD, and TGA-DSC to explain its physicochemical properties. The calcium exchange capacity evaluation is carried out and is found to be 420 mg eq. CaCO₃/gram of CSDS which is higher than STPP and Zeolite 4A. In this study, detergent formulations made with CSDS as a detergent builder were compared with those of STPP and Zeolite 4A to evaluate detergent performances according to the IS 4955:2020 standard.