Detergents in the coacervate form with plant extracts obtained under supercritical carbon dioxide conditions as examples of sustainable products

Abstract

The paper presents the results of studies related to the production of liquid detergents in the form of coacervate, formulated with a hydrophobic chamomile extract obtained in supercritical carbon dioxide conditions. The study involved the development of formulations and technology for the manufacture of washing agents containing extract at a concentrations of 0.1; 0.3 and 0.5 wt%. Starting formulations with an addition of a plant-based material were prepared and subjected to the coacervation process. The results showed that the proposed innovative form, and the incorporation of plant extract into the formulation, made it possible to obtain products characterized by a high level of safety in use and acceptable functionality. Based on the results of determination of the zein value (representing a measure of the skin irritation potential) and transepidermal water loss after the washing process, a marked improvement in the safety of using the formulations was noted. In addition, tests evaluating the fatty soil emulsification ability and foaming properties found that the proposed prototypical washing agents were characterized by appropriate functionality. An important factor to take note of is that the proposed coacervate form offers a possibility to modify product viscosity through the addition of an appropriate volume of water to the formulation. The benefits of manufacturing products of this type, as presented by the Authors in this study and correlated with the results of functionality tests, show indisputably that the proposed prototypical washing agents have the characteristics of sustainable products.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Keywords:

• Sustainable products
• liquid detergents
• plant extracts
• safety of use
• functionality

Acknowledgements

This work was funded with the assistance of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education from subsidies for statutory activity. Project no. 3086/35/P entitled “Development of formulations and technologies for the manufacture of innovative cosmetics, pharmacy supplies, household and industrial chemicals”.

Declarations of interest

The authors declare no competing financial interest.