CLINOPTILOLITES OF WESTERN ANATOLIA AS DETERGENT BUILDERS

The use of clinoptilolites of Western Anatolia in detergents as phosph ate substitutes was investigated. The cations present in the clinoptil olite samples were first exchanged with sodium ions. The washing chara cteristics of detergent mixtures containing surfactants, clinoptilolit e, sodium carbonate and sodium sulphate were analysed. The stains of c offee, tea and tomato paste were tested. The washing tests were repeat ed for different surfactants, i.e. linear alkyl benzene sulphonate, so dium alkyl sulphate and alcohol ethoxylate and for different co-builde rs, i.e. sodium carbonate and EDTA. In addition, the effects of deterg ent dose and detergent formulation on washing were investigated. Other factors affecting the degree of soil removal such as shaking time, te mperature and water hardness were also studied. The contribution of cl inoptilolite to the washability was compared with zeolite A, zeolite X and sodium tripolyphosphate. Increasing the shaking time and temperat ure improves the degree of cleaning. LAS was the most effective surfac tant for use with clinoptilolite. The washing performance of the deter gent mixtures used in the present work was found to be 00 comparable w ith that of commercial detergents at low washing temperatures. Key wor ds: clinoptilolite, detergent builders, phosphate substitutes.