Basic facts about the
Fain tenside mixture
1. The registration status of the raw
materials used in the Fain tenside mixture
The Fain tenside mixture contains anionic and nonionic components. The
anionic tenside component, the triethanolamine (TEA) salt of secondary alkane sulfonate,
is prepared in Salo, Finland by a patented process from the Europaean-made raw material
Sodium sec C14-C17 Alkane Sulfonate. This raw material is registered as a raw material for
personal care products in European Union, USA and Japan. Triethanolamine is used widely in
a large number of cosmetic products. The European cosmetic legislation does not put any
limits to TEA in products to be washed away from the skin.
2. The status of registration of the Fain
tenside mixture and its production
Oy Faintend Ltd produces the tenside mixture containing TEA-sec alkane
sulfonate. This anionic tenside component has been used for nearly 20 years mild shampoos
in the former Soviet Union and Finland. The TEA sec alkane sulfonate is listed in the
European Inventory of Existing Chemical Substances (EINECS). Oy Faintend Ltd has been
registered in European Union as a manufacturer of cosmetic products.
3. The unique characteristics of the Fain
tenside mixture
General
The basic function of the tensides is to diminish the surface tension of
water. The tensides are composed of two parts, of which one is water-loving
(hydrophilic) and the other water-repellent (hydrophobic). The tensides act at low
concentrations because they migrate to the interfaces. In the surface of water they
replace part of the water molecules thus reducing the surface tension. Thus water can have
access to moisten the surfaces to be cleaned. The anionic tensides act also on the surface
of the soil and on the surface of the substrate by adhering through the hydrophobic part.
The soil is thus covered by an electrically negative layer composed of the head group of
the tensides. The negative charges on the substrate keeps the soil from redepositioning
back to it. Due to this same effect also small soil particles do not aggregate and soil is
washed away easily. Anionic tensides are extremely water soluble.
Structure and efficiency, mildness and practical aspects.
The chemical structure of the tensides has certain relationships to the
efficiency of the tensides. Many conventional anionic tensides are rod-like in their
shape. Such tensides pack tightly together via the hydrophobic tails of the molecules.
Thus the soil and substrate are covered by numerous molecules of the tenside. These
superfluous molecules must also be rinsed away from the substrate, which consumes copious
amount of water.
In contrast, in the secondary alkane type of tensides the single
hydrophilic anionic group can be placed at various positions along the alkyl chain.
Because the number of different molecules increases, there is less packing of the tenside
molecules. Therefore the substrate is covered with less material and thus requires less
rinsing. The end result is that using secondary alkane type tensides the efficiency of the
washing and rinsing is high.
The sulfonic acid group is attached by a direct chemical bond to one of
the carbon atoms in the alkyl chain. This bond is very stable in acidic and basic
environments and at higher temperatures. In contrast, in many other tensides the anionic
group is attached via oxygen bridge (for example in alkyl ether sulfates), which is more
easily broken. When this happens, the hydrophobic tail groups are deposited as a dirt.
The secondary alkyl sulfonates are also biologically degradable at lower
temperatures than the competitive alternatives.
The triethanolamine salt of secondary alkane sulfonates has some
additional basic advantages over the conventional metal salt-based anionic tensides.
- The volume occupied by the cationic triethanolamine head group is very
large compared to that in the parent molecule. Thus the possibilities of the packing of
the tenside molecules are very limited. This increases the efficiency even further as
compared to the secondary alkane sulfonates employing sodium cation.
- The triethanolamine salt of the alkane sulfonate is chemically well
defined. It is a salt between a strong acid and a weak base (this has been formerly called
as an amine-acid complex). In contrast to soaps, such salts brought into water hydrolyze
with an acid reaction and are thus compatible with the skin. There are no possibilities
for caustic reactions as with soaps.
- The metal salts like the conventional table salt are known irritants of
the skin and mucous membranes. The small size of the sodium cation permits its access to
even the smallest pores in the skin and mucous membranes. In contrast, triethanolamine
cation is a bulky ion and naturally biocompatible.
- The absence of metal salts is also of importance in avoiding corrosion
and weathering in the maintenance of various surfaces.
- Triethanolamine is always surrounded by a layer of hydrogen-bonded
water molecules, which helps to keep moisture in the skin. Sodium ions left on the skin
lose any water layers by evaporation.
- Triethanolamine is a known component in buffer solutions, which
maintain cells in a living state and keep isolated biological molecules functional outside
of the cells.
- During the manufacture anionic tensides are usually combined with
nonionics in order to increase the removal of greasy soil. Such nonioinic tensides, when
mixed with water during manufacturing, form thick gels at high concentrations. This
problem is counteractred by the use of TEA-alkane sulfonate type of tensides. There is
more freedom in the choice of the types of the nonionic tensides in the formulation of the
products and manufacturing conditions (for example avoidance of higher temperatures to
decrease the viscosity and to speed up mixing, which contribute to the energy efficiency
of the production process). In fact a large number of end products is currently produced
from the Fain tenside mixture by simple room temperature mixing processes.
- There are indeed various requirements imposed upon the tensides
(wetting ability, foaming properties, diminution of the surface tension, rinsability,
emusification efficiency etc). Any single tenside cannot possess all of the optimal
properties at the same time. Therefore, the best tensides produce the optimal properties
with minimum number of different components when used in mixtures, which may additionally
show synergistic properties. Thus the high degree of compatibility of the Fain tenside
mixture with other tensides is an important factor in the success of the product
development. The Fain tenside mixture meets the requirements of a good tenside mixture.
4. Examples of specialty products
In addition to the existing consumer products, certain specialty
products have been developed on the basis of the Fain tenside mixture or the process
byproduct, as listed below according to the type of application.
- Recreational areas:
Soil penetration enhancer of irrigation water - quick and efficient
action - there is no buildup of salt, which might harm living plants.
GREENFAIN WP3
- Building industry
An additive in concrete
Cleaning of stone articles
- Road maintenance:
dust binding agent
- Metalworking industry
drawing and cutting fluid
surface tension diminishing agent in the manufacture of copper and steel
articles
- Horticulture
wetting agent for dry plant growth substrates of turf and linen
leaf nutrients/fertilizers
fertilizer production
- Personal hygiene
toothpaste
|
