ABSTRACT
We are all familiar with the most common form of detergent formulations-household cleaners, laundry detergents, dishwashing detergents, shampoos, body washes, bar soaps, toothpastes, etc. While pervasive in developed markets in a variety of forms for a variety of uses, even developing markets offer an array of such products for consumer use. However, detergents, a term applied to any material which either aids in the removal of foreign matter from surfaces or promotes the dispersion and stabilization of one or more ingredients in a bulk matrix, are widely used in a number of applications and industries not generally familiar to the public (the reader is referred to Volume C of this series: Applications). These include additives to lubricants to aid the removal of deposits from internal surfaces of engines, formulations to aid in the cleanup of, or to enhance the biodegradation of, oil spills and other environmental contaminants, paper and textile processing aids, and as components in the formulation of paints, inks, and colorants. The purpose of this volume, Part D in the Handbook of Detergents series, is to provide an overview of the full range of detergent formulations used today, from common household products to the more esoteric specialty applications.
