Color Removal Efficiency of Commerically Available Surfactants

7/21/2019 Color Removal Efficiency of Commerically Available Surfactants

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Color Removal Efficiency of Various Commercially Available Surfactants

Lugod, Cyril Benedict V.

Koa Lee, Jessica J.

Ocampo, Oliver Ian C.

Ong Hian Huy, Tiffany Joy T.

AbstractThis experiment comparatively analyzes the efficiency of five different brands of commercially available

surfactants, namely Ariel, Champion, Surf, Tide, and a generic brand. The samples were treated with a dyed cloth and the

absorbance pre-treatment and post-treatment were measured using a UV spectrophotometer. The sample of Surf detergent

yielded the highest color removal ability among the brands tested with a value of 76.84%. The effect of the concentration

of the detergent solution on the color removal ability of the solution was also tested. The results produced a direct and linear

relationship between the absorbance of the detergent solution with its concentration.

Introduction

In order to determine which commercially available surfactants prove to be more effective

in removing stains from cloth, five different surfactants will be tested using the spectrophotometer.

The analysis involving the correlation between the color of the solution and its

concentration can be modified using a spectrophotometer to make a more accurate measurement

of the absorbance of the standard and sample solutions. The surfactant will be mixed with dye and

the transparency of each solution will display the efficiency of the surfactant in decolorizing dyes

from cloth. The spectrophotometer will measure the absorbance of light as it passes through the

sample. The absorbance may be measured as a function of concentration. Beer-LambertsLaw

summarizes the correlation:

A=log101

=log10

A= Ed

Where, A =absorbance

T= Transmittance

Io= Intensity or light entering the solution

I= Intensity or light leaving the solution

E= absorptivity, L/molcm or 1/Mcm

C= concentration, U

L= path length, cm


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Materials and Methods

1. Surfactants- detergents like Ariel, tide, etc.

2. Beaker - A wide glass, with a lip for pouring, that is used especially for measuring liquids

3. Spectrophotometer - used to measure the relative intensities or light in different parts of a

spectrum4. Dye - a colored substance that has an affinity to the substrate to which it is applied

5. Distilled Water (H2O)

6. Pipettes - glassware used to get a specific volume of a liquid

7. Dropper - used to get a certain volume of a liquid of detergent in a water solution

Methods:

1. Make 5% (w/w) aqueous solution of surfactants

2. Make a 1% (v/v) dye solution.

3. Drop 0.5 mL of dye solution to each of the surfactant solutions and test the samples

using the spectrophotometer (=575 nm).

4. Choose the best brand from the samples based on the data and make another set of

samples with 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 (% w/w) concentrations.

5. Drop 0.5 mL of the dye solution to each surfactant concentrations and test the

samples.

Data and Calculations

The values of the absorbances without the dyes correspond to the absorbances of the

untreated detergent solutions. After addition of the dyed cloth into the solutions, the absorbances

increase depending on the brand. The mass transfer of the dye from the stained cloth to the

detergent solution is quantitavely described by the absorbance of the solution. The brand with the

highest absorbance qualifies as the brand with the most efficient color removal ability among the

brands tested.

Properties Hazards DisposalMP: 273 K

BP: 373 K

SG: 1.00

MW: 18.02 g/mol

Liquid at STP

N/A Sink


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Table 1. Absorbance of various brands at 5% (v/v)

Brand Absorbance w/o dye

(AU)

Absorbance w/ dye

(AU)

% increase in

absorbance

Ariel 1.781 1.829 2.695%

Champion 0.132 0.135 2.273%

Generic 0.623 0.709 13.80%

Surf 1.425 2.520 76.84%

Tide 2.013 2.039 1.292%

Dye 2.880

Water 0.074

Figure 1. Brand comparison by absorbance at 5% (v/v)

The results yielded a 76.84% increase in absorbance for Surf. The color removal efficiency

of Surf trumps the other competitors in this aspect.

2.70% 2.27%13.80%

76.84%

1.29%

ARIEL CHAMPION GENERIC SURF TIDE

%i

ncraaseinabsorbance

Brands

Brand comparison by absorbance


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Table 2. Concentrations of Surf solutions

Concentration Absorbance w/o dye Absorbance w/ dye% increase in

absorbance

1 0.346 0.401 15.90%

2 0.615 0.875 42.28%5 1.420 2.521 77.46%

10 2.771 4.974 79.50%

15 4.121 7.460 81.02%

Graph 1. Comparison of the absorbances of different concentrations with and without dye

With Surf being the best candidate for color removal efficiency, it is elected for the

determination of the effect of absorbance with different concentrations of detergent. There is a

direct and linear relationship between the absorbance of a detergent solution with its concentration.

The rate of increase of absorbance with the concentration of the solution is greater upon additionof the dyed cloth. The difference of the absorbances with and without dye for a certain

concentration describes the intensity of the color removal efficiency of the solution. A larger

difference translates to a better decolorizing ability for the certain concentration. The increasing

difference between the absorbances with and without dye as the concentration increases verifies

the experimentally determined relationship.

y = 0.2697x + 0.0748

R = 1

y = 0.5049x - 0.0861

R = 0.9997

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

Absorbance(AU)

Concentration (%v/v)

Absorbance vs. Concentration of Surf Powder

Absorbance w/o dye Absorbance w/ dye


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Conclusion and Recommendations

Among the brands of commercially available surfactants tested, Surf yielded the highest

color removal ability. This is characterized by a higher absorbance reading after treatment with a

controlled concentration and volume of dye. There is a direct and linear relationship between the

absorbance and the concentration of the detergent solution. A higher detergent concentrationtherefore results to a more efficient color removal action on stains.

The experiment can be further developed by incorporating temperature variance in the

color removal efficiency of different concentrations of a certain detergent which can be elected

using the first part of the experiment. This produces a 3D graph and the partial derivatives can be

utilize for measuring the efficiency of each aspect. Addition of more dyes belonging to different

color ranges will also help determine the efficiency of the detergent solution in removing colors

from different wavelengths.

References

-see post pre-labs

Documents

Color Removal Efficiency of Commerically Available Surfactants