Question

How is detergent industrially manufactured?

Answer 1

Petroleum produces long-chain hydrocarbons which are treated with the concentrated sulfuric acid. After this, sodium hydroxide is used to neutralize it. The product obtained is detergent. Different types of detergents are there based upon their interaction with water.

Complete answer: Detergents are sodium salts of long-chain benzene sulphonic acids or alkyl sulfate. It is a surfactant used for cleaning clothes. The general structure of any detergent is $R - S{O_4}^ -$. They are amphiphilic, this means that they contain both hydrophobic as well as hydrophilic parts. These are mostly soluble in hard water. Hard water contains calcium and magnesium ions in higher quantities. Detergents can be produced easily using petrochemicals. The ionic group present in detergent is $SO{3^ - }N{a^ + }$. The best examples of detergents are sodium p-dodecyl sulfonate, and sodium lauryl sulfate.
There are different types of detergent:
Anionic detergent- they have negatively charged sulfate groups as their hydrophilic head. These are sodium salts of long-chain sulfonated alcohols or hydrocarbons.
Cationic detergents- these are those which have positively charged ammonium groups as their hydrophilic heads.
Non-ionic detergents-these are the ones whose hydrophilic heads are uncharged. These are based on polyoxyethylene or glycoside.
Detergents are prepared industrially using petroleum. The long chains of hydrocarbons from petroleum are reacted with the concentrated sulphuric acid (${H_2}S{O_4}$). An intermediate product is formed. This intermediate product is neutralized with sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The final product formed is called detergent.

Note:
The detergents produced by industries are present in powder form or concentrated solutions. Hydrocarbons are those compounds that have hydrogen and carbon. Detergents are basic. Hydrophobic means those who like to stay away from water and hydrophilic are those who like to stay in contact with water.