i need to know...?

Question

what is the agent that causes powder detergent to produce bubbles (foam) when mixed with water?

My boss owns an industrial soil driller, and uses HUGE amounts of powder laundry deterget to produce foam that will eliminate friction between soil and machine and make drilling easier. I want to reproduce powder laundry detergent but i'm not interested on cleaning power or scent, just on the bubbles...Many thanks

Answer 1

Foam is produced by agents which change the surface properties of water locally and trap air. These may be organic or inorganic in composition.

Answer 2

Bubble Mix Recipes
Recipes for bubble mix differ, partly because soap powders and detergents vary in strength. Experiment and figure out which ones work best for you. Here are some suggestions that may help:

• Dishwashing detergent usually works well.

• Use at least 1 part detergent to 8 to 10 parts of warm water for a normal mix. For example, 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of detergent for every 1/2 cup (125 ml) of water, or 1/2 cup of soap to 5 cups of water.

• A larger proportion of soap to water makes larger bubbles.

• More detergent than water creates giant bubbles.

• Add sugar or gelatin powder or glycerin to get longer-lasting bubbles. Bubbles burst when they dry out. These substances slow down the evaporation of water that causes the drying out. Try 1 part sugar or gelatin or glycerin to 1 part soap and 6 parts water.

Bubble Tips

• Save clean jars of different sizes to hold various bubble mixes.

• Stir gently so as not to whip up soapsuds. (Suds are actually tiny bubbles.)

• If possible, let the bubble mix stand for a day or two before using it.

• Put the bubble mix in the refrigerator for a few minutes before using it. Your bubbles will last longer.

• For best results, blow bubbles on a rainy day. Because there is more moisture in the air, they will last longer

Answer 3

Soap produces bubbles because of a class of organic compounds known as surficants. They work by forming thin films, either around air as bubbles or around tiny particles of grease when they clean things. Surficants have an oil soluable section and a water soluable head. The oil soluable section sticks to grease and covers it with the water soluable portions of the surficant. This makes the grease mix with water and it can then be separated from whatever it is being cleaned from. Traditionally, surficants were sodium or potassium salts of fatty acids. Modern detergents use a class of compounds known as anionic surficants. They are synthetic organic compounds with sulfuryl groups as the water soluable part.

Answer 4

It's caused by surfactants (not surficant!!!).