A Critical Analytical Study on Certain Popular Indian Detergent Powders with Respect to the Related BIS Specifications and Their Environmental Impact
Journal Title: Universal Journal of Environmental Research and Technology - Year 2014, Vol 4, Issue 4
Abstract
A ‘consumer-point’ critical analytical study was conducted on the quality of some of the popular detergent powders sold in India with respect to their active matter, water-insoluble mineral matter, total alkalinity, and presence or absence of phosphates. The problem of adverse environmental impact of the detergents owing to the pollution-creating active matter that generates foam ; phosphates, found in 3 out of 11 samples ; and slush-creating insoluble mineral matter, present in 10 out of 11 samples, were also critically discussed. The study was also focused on the utter futility of the official specification, I.S. : 4955 – 2001, issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), meant for assessing the efficacy of the marketed laundry detergent powders. None of the branded detergent powder packets showed ISI mark issued by BIS. Also, none of the packets showed any of the characteristics enlisted in I.S.: 4955 – 2001, viz., active ingredients, total phosphates, sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP), active alkalinity, % detergency, and % ash built-up. It is concluded that chemical composition and quality of detergent powders manufactured in India is controlled by the manufacturers’ own whims and fancies, and not by BIS specification. On the contrary, BIS specification itself is plagued by impractical test characteristics which are also grossly ignored by manufacturers, and consumers are also totally unaware of all these.
Authors and Affiliations
Johar Sarabjeet Singh, Johar G. S. , Tiwari Anuradha and Dixit A. K.
Keywords
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