Investigation of Color Instability in a Liquid Laundry Detergent

During reformulation of a liquid laundry detergent, an undesirable color change was observed: the normally blue color of the formulation was found to turn green when exposed to elevated temperatures during accelerated stability testing. Spectroscopic analysis revealed formation of a yellow substance...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of surfactants and detergents 2014-09, Vol.17 (5), p.839-847
Main Authors: Missler, Stephen R., Vredeveld, Douglas J., Westrate, Eric D., Sliva, Philip G., Brouwer, Steven J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acetaldehyde
Anion exchange
Aquatic Pollution
Chemical composition
Chemistry
Chemistry and Materials Science
Color
Detergent industry
Detergents
Discoloration
Dyes
High temperature
Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering
LC–MS
Liquid chromatography
Liquid laundry detergent
Mass spectrometry
Original Article
Physical Chemistry
Polyethenylimine
Polymer Sciences
Spectrum analysis
Stability
Surfaces and Interfaces
TEA
Thin Films
Triethanolamine
Waste Water Technology
Water Management
Water Pollution Control
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Summary:During reformulation of a liquid laundry detergent, an undesirable color change was observed: the normally blue color of the formulation was found to turn green when exposed to elevated temperatures during accelerated stability testing. Spectroscopic analysis revealed formation of a yellow substance, whose transmission spectrum combined with that of the blue dye to yield the observed green color. Sequential solid phase extraction using cation and anion exchange indicated the yellow substance was a base. Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) analysis of the isolate demonstrated a series of related compounds whose elemental composition and fragmentation suggested polyethenyl imines (PEIs). These results support a mechanism involving metal-catalyzed oxidative degradation of triethanolamine (TEA) with subsequent acetaldehyde-mediated formation of conjugated PEIs as primary factors responsible for the observed color change.
ISSN:1097-3958
1558-9293
DOI:10.1007/s11743-013-1536-3