Wood-based detergent shows promise
Researchers suggest the cleaner removes stains from clothes and dishes almost as well as commercial brands.
Traditional cleaners containing alkylphenol polyethoxylates and phosphates are linked to high costs and potential damage to surfaces as they are hard to rinse off.
Researchers at Tianjin University of Science and Technology, China, have combined cellulose nanofibres from wood with zein protein from corn to create a new detergent without these properties.
The cellulose is amphiphilic and so can form emulsions and attract strains. The zein protein helps stabilise this emulsion and traps oils.
The team cleaned cotton fabrics and dishes stained with ink, chilli oil and tomato paste. While slightly less effective at 1% detergent (by weight), at 5% concentration, the results were reportedly superior to 1% commercial solutions.
One of the results show a 5% solution of cellulose/zein removes 92% of the stain compared to 87% with a 1% solution of commercial dish soap.
