Glucopon® 480: The Laundry APG

Published

December 10, 2024

A functional replacement for alcohol ethoxylates in laundry that maintains performance

The home care industry has faced significant challenges over the past five years, particularly due to increasing regulations on 1,4-dioxane, an impurity in manufactured ethoxylated surfactants. New York State initiated stricter 1,4-dioxane limits in 2022, setting a maximum of 1 part per million (ppm) effective December 2023, signaling a significant shift in regulatory practices aimed at protecting public health and the environment.[1] The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the final revised risk determination for 1,4-dioxane as a whole chemical substance and has determined that this chemical poses an unreasonable risk of injury to human health.

1,4-dioxane regulations significantly affect the home care industry, particularly laundry products, which account for 76% of the market by volume.  The 1,4-dioxane containing surfactant categories of alcohol ethoxylates (AEOs) and sodium lauryl ether sulfates (SLES) are  widely used for this cleaning segment, making it essential to find 1,4-dioxane-free alternatives to allow for partial replacements. 

Anionic surfactants like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) are potential substitutes, known for their stain-fighting effectiveness. However, they raise concerns about skin irritation, particularly in individuals with sensitive skin or pre-existing skin conditions. These powerful anionic surfactants can remove excessive oil from the skin's protective barrier, leading to moisture loss and penetration of environmental aggressors.[3] This in turn results in the redness and irritation that consumers associate with harsh surfactants like SLS and LAS.

Additionally, while anionic surfactants tend to be excellent at lifting and suspending particulate soils, nonionic surfactants excel at emulsifying oils and removing organic soils, making them effective on greasy and oily stains. Therefore, SLS and LAS are not ideal replacements for alcohol ethoxylates, as their differing charges and mechanisms of action suit them to different categories of stains and give them different performance profiles.

Another class of alternatives are lipid surfactants, which include sophorolipids, glycolipids, and rhamnolipids. These biosurfactants boast strong sustainability credentials and are gentle on the skin, making them appealing from a health and environmental perspective. However, their efficacy in home care applications is not yet well-established, and the global production capacity for these surfactants is limited, resulting in higher costs compared to traditional options. Which leads to the question:

Is there a dioxane-free surfactant that can serve as a partial substitute co-surfactant for alcohol ethoxylates in laundry applications while maintaining a competitive cost-performance ratio?

[1] New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. "1,4-Dioxane Limits For Household Cleansing, Personal Care, And Cosmetic Products."

[2] U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "EPA Releases Final Risk Evaluation for 1,4-Dioxane."

[3] de Jongh, C.M., Jakasa, I., Verberk, M.M., & Kezic, S. "Variation in barrier impairment and inflammation of human skin as determined by sodium lauryl sulphate penetration rate." British Journal of Dermatology, vol. 154, no. 4, 2006, pp. 651-657.

A promising functional alternative to alcohol ethoxylates (AEOs) is alkyl polyglucosides (APGs), which have traditionally excelled in hard surface cleaning and manual dishwashing due to their streak-free performance and superior foaming. They can also effectively serve as co-surfactants for tough laundry stains. Our data shows that Glucopon 480, BASF's newest APG for laundry, achieves performance near parity with linear AEOs in both warm and cold washes when used as a complete substitute in standard detergent formulations.[4]

Additionally, another myth surrounding APGs is that their gentleness compromises their cleaning power. Remarkably, replacing 100% of the AEO in a model detergent with just 32% of Glucopon 480, based on active ingredients, resulted in close to cost performance parity. This result demonstrates that the overall nonionic surfactant loading could be reduced by 68% while losing only 4% of cleaning effectiveness. This finding underscores the impressive efficiency of Glucopon 480, proving that it can deliver powerful cleaning performance while significantly reducing the amount of nonionic surfactant required. 

[4] BASF Study. Full Scale medium fill 15°C & 30°C, Maytag HE machine, 1.2 g/L NA Model Formulation, 1.1 mM water hardness (4:1:8 Ca:Mg:HCO3-), Complex food stain set, dE measured on Mach5+

Glucopon 480 not only enhances performance but can also have a positive impact on product carbon footprint. The incorporation of Glucopon 480 in our model detergent allowed for a reduction in the product carbon footprint (PCF) of our model detergent formulation in several important ways. Firstly, Glucopon 480 itself has a lower PCF compared to the conventional linear alcohol ethoxylate in the original formula. Additionally, Glucopon 480’s ability to achieve a 68% reduction in nonionic surfactant usage further contributes to PCF reduction. [6] Altogether, these factors culminate in a remarkable total potential PCF reduction of 39% as observed for this model detergent, [6] showcasing Glucopon 480 as a powerful agent for both performance and sustainability in laundry applications.

[6] PCF excludes biogenic CO2 removals & is stated as Cradle to Gate. Model formulation actives concentration may vary, 32% Glucopon 480 inclusion on an actives basis in this model detergent.

Going dioxane-free does not necessitate a compromise on performance or sustainability for formulators. Glucopon 480 provides an effective functional alternative to AEOs in laundry applications, maintaining excellent detergency in both warm and cold water. This versatile APG not only serves as an alternative for alcohol ethoxylates but also demonstrates near cost performance parity even when used as a partial replacement. Furthermore, its ability to reduce surfactant levels lead to substantial carbon footprint (PCF) savings of up to 39% in our model detergent formulation. At BASF, we believe that as ingredient suppliers, we hold the responsibility to develop cutting-edge chemistries that equip our industry with the necessary tools to formulate cleaner and more sustainable solutions. If you are interested in partnering with us by leveraging Glucopon 480 as a more sustainable and dioxane-free alternative for laundry applications, Request Sample.