The adsorption of a l4C-labe1led sodium carboxy-methyl cellulose (SCMC) on to textile fibres and soil particles has been investigated. Attempts have been made to relate the amounts of SCMC adsorbed to its antiredeposition action. The results show that SCMC is only effective as an anti-redeposition agent with fabrics on to which it readily adsorbs from detergent solutions.
FabricsThe following fabrics were used: cambric cotton, Kem cotton, cotton poplin, a urea-acrolein resin-treated sample of the poplin, a formaldehyde crosslink sample of the poplin and lightweight nylon. In some of the experiments the fabrics were desized by boiling with a solution containing 0.2 "/, Teepol and 0.2 % sodium tripolyphosphate for 1 hour.
SoilsSeveral types of carbon were used as model soils, these were Sterling MT (arithmetic mean particle diameter, d = 4724 A), Sterling FT (d = 1796 A), Sterling S (d = 797 A), Monarch 74 (d = 173 A), and Spheron 6 (d = 250 A), all from Cabot Carbon Co.Aquadag, manufactured by Acheson Colloids Ltd., was used in some of the carbon-soil tests. This is a dispersion of a graphitic material stabilised by ammonia and dextrinous materials.Illite, which was chosen as a typical clay soil, was obtained from Ward's Natural Science Establishment lnc.
Other compoundsThe detergents used were sodium dodecylbenzenesulphonate-055 (Na-DOBS-055) from Shell Ltd., n-decanol 12 EO from Prices (Brom.) Ltd. and Nonidet P40, a non-ionic detergent manufactured by Shell Ltd. The cotton fluorescer used was Tinopal 4BM from Geigy Ltd.