The scientists seems to have found the dream date for those who fret, rightfully, about the pollution from phosphorus in detergents. The 'perfect bubble' comes from natural ingredients, works in difficult cleaning situations such as cold or hard water, and doesn't result in disagreeable waste products. (Science Daily: Researchers invent 'perfect' soap molecule that is better for the environment, cleans in all conditions)
Note: phosphorus doesn't kill life but rather stimulates it and that can result in toxic algal blooms, etc. (WIKI: Nutrient pollution)
A team of researchers, led by the University of Minnesota, has invented a new soap molecule made from renewable sources that could dramatically reduce the number of chemicals in cleaning products and their impact on the environment.
The soap molecules also worked better than some conventional soaps in challenging conditions such as cold water and hard water. The technology has been patented by the University of Minnesota and is licensed to the new Minnesota-based startup company Sironix Renewables.
"The impact of OFS soaps will be greater than their detergent performance," said University of Minnesota chemical engineering and materials science graduate student Kristeen Joseph. "OFS is made from straight carbon chains derived from soybeans or coconut which can readily biodegrade. These are really the perfect soap molecules."
Note: phosphorus doesn't kill life but rather stimulates it and that can result in toxic algal blooms, etc. (WIKI: Nutrient pollution)
A team of researchers, led by the University of Minnesota, has invented a new soap molecule made from renewable sources that could dramatically reduce the number of chemicals in cleaning products and their impact on the environment.
The soap molecules also worked better than some conventional soaps in challenging conditions such as cold water and hard water. The technology has been patented by the University of Minnesota and is licensed to the new Minnesota-based startup company Sironix Renewables.
- Science Daily
That's the only plug in the article for Sironix Renewables as the main thrust of the paper is regarding the consortium doing the research.
The question of how well they work isn't clear but seemingly less well in cleaning than detergents laden with chemicals but well enough for reasonable comparison based on the sound treatment of the environment.
The new OFS soap eliminates the hard water problem by using a naturally derived source that does not bind strongly to minerals in water. The researchers found that OFS molecules were shown to form soap particles (micelles) even at 100 times the conventional hard water conditions. As a result, a cleaning product's ingredient list could be significantly simplified.
"The impact of OFS soaps will be greater than their detergent performance," said University of Minnesota chemical engineering and materials science graduate student Kristeen Joseph. "OFS is made from straight carbon chains derived from soybeans or coconut which can readily biodegrade. These are really the perfect soap molecules."
- Science Daily
The article winds up to say research continues in, well, perfecting the perfect bubble and presumably increasing cleaning performance to make it more competitive. Probably this comes to cost since the consumer isn't likely to buy something which isn't quite as effective unless there's a strong sense of environmentalism and / or there's a better price. That remains to be determined but it should be worth watching since the environmental benefit is clearly good.
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