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Europe Swinging to Biodegradable Syndets Coupled with the switch from branched- to straight-chain alkylbenzene is the prospect of a growing detergent market The detergent industry in Western Europe is moving, as is its counterpart in the U.S., into the biodegradable era. Current status differs from country to country, but the market should become more uniform within the next five to 10 years. Coupled with the coming change to biodegradable detergents are prospects for growth in some segments of the detergent market in Europe. This is Dr. G. L. Hollis' capsule appraisal of the detergent industry in Europe. D& Hollis of Imperial Chemical Industries' organic chemicals division presented his views at the meeting of the Chemical Specialties Manufacturers Association in Atlantic City, N.J. Early this month a report of Britain's Standing Technical Committee on Synthetic Detergents foretold the end of "hard" detergents on the U.K. market. The report notes that detergent makers, working through the Federation of British Industries, have agreed that at the end of this year they will stop making products with hard alkylbenzene sulfonates derived from propylene tetramer for the U.K. market. Enough raw material now exists, the report states, to supply makers of household and industrial detergents with biologically softer products than any now distributed. The raw material is straight-chain alkylbenzene. Variable Situation. On the Continent the situation varies from country to country. Irf West Germany, where river water is extensively used and reused, legislation came into effect on Oct. 1, 1964 which requires that detergent materials be at least 80% biodegradable. No other western European country has taken legal action yet, but Dr. Hollis believes Switzerland may follow the West German example. The Netherlands and Belgium are taking a "wait and see" attitude, while France is considering legislation to control all products
Sales of Domestic Syndet Powders in Europe Could Reach 1,386,000 Tons by the Early 1970's
Country United Kingdom West Germany France Belgium The Netherlands Italy Total
Sales 1000 tons ~1962~~ 1970-75 182.6 286 256.3 48.4 29.7 181.5 984.5
385 330 297 55 44 275 1386
Source: Imperial Cherrlical Industrie s
which ultimately end up in water. Italy may be one of the last countries to take formal action against hard detergents. A committee has been formed there, however, to consider the biodegradability problem. Growth. With or without the biodegradability problem, the market for syndets in Europe should continue to expand, and new products will be introduced. In the U.K., for instance, sulfated, short-chain ethoxylates, with their improved foaming properties, are replacing nonionics in domestic liquid detergents. Heavy-duty liquids, few of which are now used, as well as low-foaming detergents and tablets, are now being considered. Light-Duty Liquids. The outlook for light-duty liquid detergents is particularly promising in Europe. The combined market in the six leading industrial countries (U.K., France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, and the Netherlands) could grow an average of 8% per year over the next five to 10 years. In the U.K., Dr. Hollis believes, this market will level out by 1970 at about 88,000 tons annually. In 1962, sales of all liquid syndets in the U.K. were 61,600 tons. On the Continent, concentrated, light-duty liquids are just getting started with sales in 1962 of 92,400 tons. By 1970 or 1975, the five lead-
ing continental countries may be using 277,200 tons of light-duty liquids annually, if they achieve the same use-level that is expected in the U.K. (about 2.8 pounds per person annually). Housewives' habits are difficult to change, however, and some countries may not follow the U.S.-U.K. pattern. This is especially true in Italy and, to a lesser extent, in France. On the surface, the liquid market in the Netherlands and in Belgium appears to be declining. Dr. Hollis estimates that the Netherlands will consume 16,500 tons and that Belgium will consume 13,200 tons by 1970 or 1975. This compares with a total consumption of liquid products of 19,800 tons (the Netherlands) and 16,500 tons (Belgium) in 1962. Well over half (perhaps 75%) of the liquids now used, however, are weak materials, with less than 10% active content. The trend for concentrated liquids, however, should be upward. Judging how the light-duty, liquiddetergent market will progress is a difficult task. Dr. Hollis does estimate, though, that by the early 1970's about 5500 to 6600 tons of hydrophobic materials should be used annually on the Continent and about 4400 tons in the U.K. That would be a 7700 ton-per-year increase over present consumption levels. Synthetic Powders. There are still growth prospects, too, for synthetic powders at the expense of soap. This is particularly true in the U.K. where syndets command only 4 3 % of the total soap and detergent market. Growth of syndets will be less in the following countries where syndets already command a greater portion of the market: Germany, 77%; Belgium, 6 3 % ; and France, 60%. If all European countries follow the U.S. example of using powders based almost completely on synythetics, Dr. Hollis figures that the European market will be 1,386,000 tons by 1970. This is equivalent to 277,200 tons of DEC.
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active material (on a 20% activematerial basis), 80,300 tons greater than present levels. Dr. Hollis cautions that these are theoretical levels, however. In practice, they may not be reached. In the U.K., where one popular brand of soap powder alone accounts for about 110,000 tons of sales annually, there is little or no evidence of change, according to Dr. Hollis. Low-Foam Powders. It is difficult to gauge the future of low-foaming powders in Europe. Their growth depends on how popular automatic washers become, but Dr. Hollis says that by 1970 some demand for the low-foamers should develop. This will be at the expense of the highfoaming powders as well as soapbased materials. Meanwhile, very little liquid, heavy-duty detergent is used in Europe, and Dr. Hollis sees no change in sight. Change. Coupled with these growth prospects are the product changes that will come about to satisfy biodegradability. In evaluating possible contenders, Dr. Hollis doesn't rule out soap, particularly in the U.K. where leading producers are wellgeared to soap production. This is particularly true if biodegradable synthetics become too expensive. As with its American counterpart, the European detergent industry is choosing straight-chain alkylbenzene as the first alternative to material based on propylene tetramer. It should help solve the biodegradability problem, says Dr. Hollis, but, he cautions, there is still the question of whether or not linear alkyl sulfonates (LAS) will be eventually replaced by even more completely biodegradable materials, such as straight-chain alkylsulfate. Although Dr. Hollis believes that pressure to replace LAS with softer, but more expensive, products hasn't materialized yet, he says the situation could easily change if the softer materials became available at competitive prices. If primary alkylsulfates, derived from straight-chain, primary alcohols do become competitive, they could grab a significant share of the market for detergent powders in Europe, Dr. Hollis says. Primary alkylsulfates, such as tallow alcohol sulfate (C 1 6 to C 1 8 ) are now used in admixtures with either the sulfate of a lower alcohol (such as lauryl in the C 1 2 -C 1 4 range) or alkylbenzene sulfonate. Only producers who can use some of their al20
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cohol output captively, however, can make them competitively. Prospects for straight-chain alcohols are brighter in domestic liquid detergents. In fact, sulfated ethylene oxide condensates, either nonionic or anionic, are well entrenched in the U.K. liquid-detergent market. Lauryl alcohol or alkylphenols are the main hydrophobic materials. Lauryl alcohol, however, is expensive and sensitive to changes in coconut-oil prices. Alkylphenol is less expensive but, apparently, is biologically harder. Choosing between the two, says Dr. Hollis, would depend upon prospects for inexpensive straight-chain alcohols and how seriously each country views the biodegradability problem. Until this becomes more clear, the amount of alkylphenol condensates used will remain insignificant in the U.K. and other western European countries. Secondary alcohols have played second fiddle to primary alcohols in Europe. Their sulfates have been susceptible to hydrolysis and have had poor color and odor. Dr. Hollis says, though, that this doesn't mean that future products will have the same disadvantages. Problems stemming from the secondary grouping can be overcome, he points out, by condensation with a molecule of ethylene oxide before sulfation which, in effect, converts the secondary alcohol to a primary alcohol. In the U.S., Union Carbide this year began marketing a series of secondary alcohol ethoxylates and ethoxysulfates. Thus, Dr. Hollis sees the possibility of secondary ethoxysulfates being used in detergent powders, either alone or combined with straight-chain alkylbenzene sulfonate. They would provide improved biodegradability at little or no extra cost, if secondary alcohols made from n-paraffms were attractively priced and if ethoxylation weren't too expensive. Secondary alcohols could also become raw materials for liquid detergents in Europe. Although LAS, primary alcohols, and secondary alcohols, in descending order, appear to be the choices in Europe, as well as in the U.S., other products are being considered. One is sodium alkane sulfonate (SAS). Enjay now makes semicommercial amounts of SAS in this country and is supplying British detergent makers with test amounts. Others are sugar esters and taurate derivatives, both of which are handicapped by high costs.
Illinois Clinical Labs Need Standards ACS representative at hearings calls for means of measuring competence of clinical chemists Standards and procedures need to be developed for regulating the activities of clinical laboratories in Illinois. Particularly necessary are means for measuring the competency of clinical chemists as well as other scientists working in clinical laboratories who carry out tests on human materials. These were the main points made by Dr. W. B. Mason, Chairman of the Board of Directors Committee on Clinical Chemistry, at a hearing conducted recently by the Illinois Commission on Clinical Laboratories, Blood Banks, and Blood Bank Depositories. The Commission was formed by the Illinois Legislature in 1963 to study the operations of clinical laboratories and blood banks and to determine the necessity and feasibility of a program for regulating and licensing such operations in the state. The legislature also passed in 1963 a laboratory registration law to identify all clinical laboratories and blood banks that are currently operating in Illinois. Statement. In the Society's statement, Dr. Mason endorsed these two measures but urged that registration be followed by a certification program for measuring the competency of laboratories, their directors, and other associated personnel. This, he said, was in line with official American Chemical Society policy supporting the compulsory licensure of clinical chemists (C&EN, April 29, 1963, page 114). Only in this way, stated Dr. Mason, can the public's health, safety, and welfare adequately be protected. He further recommended that laboratory scientists be tested only in those areas in which they will be permitted to practice, e.g., clinical chemistry, bacteriology, cytology, etc. Also, he said, clinical laboratories should be certified to conduct only those tests and procedures falling within the professional competence of the scientists they employ. In line with this recommendation, he urged that on-site evaluation and supervi-
