Formulation Guides

Detergent Raw Materials: A Complete Guide

11 December 20259 min read

A detergent formulation is built from several functional categories of raw material, each playing a distinct role.

Surfactants

The primary cleaning agents: anionics like LABSA, SLES and MESAPON® MES provide the main detergency and foam.

Builders

Ingredients like STPP and SHMP soften water by sequestering hardness minerals, boosting surfactant efficiency significantly.

pH adjusters and chelators

Citric Acid and Caustic Soda are used to control formulation pH and assist with saponification or descaling.

Fillers and processing aids

Sodium sulfate and similar fillers help control powder density and flow properties in detergent powders.

Understanding how these categories interact is the foundation of an effective, cost-optimised detergent formulation. Browse our full product catalogue for raw materials across every category.

Surfactant Basics

What is MES (Methyl Ester Sulfonate)?

An introduction to Methyl Ester Sulfonate: how it's made, why it's more sustainable, and where it's used.

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Product Comparisons

Difference Between MES and LABSA

A side-by-side technical comparison of two of the most widely used anionic surfactants.

6 min readRead

Formulation Guides

Choosing the Right Surfactant for Your Application

Key factors (foam, hardness tolerance, mildness and cost) to weigh when selecting a surfactant.

8 min readRead

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