Effect of sodium lignosulfonate on the anti-redeposition ability of cotton cloth in a SDBS-Na2C2O4-CMC formulation

Abstract

Abstract Sodium oxalate (Na2C2O4) is an excellent phosphorus-free agent, but in sodium oxalate-containing detergents with sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), significant ash deposition occurs on cotton fabrics. SDBS is the main anionic surfactant in modern detergents and cotton fiber is the most commonly used textile fiber. In this study, sodium lignosulfonate (LS) was investigated for its ability to prevent redeposition in SDBS-Na2C2O4-CMC-LS formulations. The effects of LS on ash content, whiteness, optimum washing temperature, calcium oxalate morphology, zeta potential and surface tension were carefully analyzed. The results showed that the addition of LS significantly improved the prevention of ash deposits on cotton fibers. The ash content was less than 0.46% and a small amount of particles were scattered on the cotton fibers. LS showed good dispersibility but had little effect on the washing power and zeta-potential.