Biological and Non-Biological Laundry Detergents

Comparing the Effects of Bio and Non-Bio Washing Powders

Nov 7, 2009

Is it better for health and the environment to use biological or non biological detergents?

As the world becomes more concerned about the damage that everyday activities cause the environment, questions are being asked about many of the products that are used. Laundry detergent, or washing powder, is one of these products, and several different concerns are attached to it. A particular issue is the label “Biological”. Does this mean it is good or bad? Has it got anything to do with biodegradable products or biological weapons? Is it going to harm a person's health, or is it going to damage the environment?

Removing Dirt and Stains

Clothes are washed to remove dirt, stains and smells. Detergent is added to the water used in order to make that process easier. Most detergents, used for the whole range of washing and cleaning, are based on surfactants which reduce the surface tension of the water, enabling it to dissolve grease better and so remove dirt, which water alone would not touch. In laundry detergent, other additives are present in order to make the wash more effective. These include phosphates to reduce the effect of hard water, optical brightener to reflect more light and make colours appear brighter, and perfumes to provide a fresh smell to the clean garments. Each of these ingredients has its own effects, both on the environment and our health. For example, phosphates collect in natural water supplies, causing algal blooms in lakes, and optical brighteners can cause allergic reactions.

Reducing Energy Consumption

In the modern world, one of the goals of concerned people is to reduce the amount of energy they use. The problem of climate change, together with dwindling oil reserves and the need to economise, means that the reduction of consumption of electrical power, or other energy, is a very positive outcome. Detergents based solely on surfactants are more effective at higher temperatures so, in an effort to reduce the temperature clothes need to be washed at, a new range of detergents have been developed, called biological detergents.

Enzymes Allow Low-Temperature Washing

The addition of biological agents called enzymes, improves the performance of laundry detergents at lower temperatures. Most of these biochemicals work at temperatures of around 30 to 40 degrees Celsius, and they work by breaking down the constituents of dirt and stains. Originally biological detergents used proteases, which are enzymes which break down proteins, a major component of dirt, but now washing detergents also contain amylases, lipases and cellulases. These additional enzymes combine their actions to break down a wide range of chemicals in stains and are remarkably effective in washing clothes at lower temperatures, saving the consumer money and reducing the quantity of energy used.

Better for the Environment

A further benefit of biological detergents is their reduced effect on the water environment. While surfactants and phosphates can build up in rivers and lakes, affecting the aquatic wildlife, the enzymes in biological detergents are much more biodegradable and so have much less of an effect on the environment. The only drawback being that they do cause some allergies to people with sensitive skin.

Every consideration of the effects of consumer products is a balancing act between a range of different factors. Overall, however, it seems that biological laundry detergent are generally positive for users who are not allergic to the enzymes. The lower environmental impact and reduction in energy use are generally positive benefits.

The copyright of the article Biological and Non-Biological Laundry Detergents in Everyday Chemistry is owned by Simon Davies. Permission to republish Biological and Non-Biological Laundry Detergents in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.