As a trusted supplier of turnkey daily chemical production line solutions, Granda Machinery is committed to helping you streamline your liquid detergent manufacturing process. Whether you’re a startup entering the market or an established brand looking to expand capacity, this guide breaks down the core production steps, paired with insights into the specialized equipment that ensures efficiency and product quality. (Relevant machine videos and images are attached for visual reference.)
1. Raw Material Preparation: Lay the Foundation for Quality
The first step in liquid detergent production is gathering and prepping the right ingredients. Using high-quality raw materials and accurate measurement is critical to achieving consistent cleaning performance and stability.
- Key Ingredients:
- Surfactants (e.g., Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate/SLES, Cocamidopropyl Betaine/CAPB): The “cleaning power” core, breaking down dirt and grease.
- Builders (e.g., Sodium Tripolyphosphate/STPP, Citric Acid): Enhance surfactant efficiency and soften water.
- Additives (e.g., Fragrances, Dyes, Preservatives, Viscosity Regulators): Improve product appearance, scent, and shelf life.
- Deionized Water: The base solvent; avoid tap water (minerals cause residue or ingredient clashing).
- Granda Equipment Support: Use Granda’s Automatic Raw Material Weighing System to ensure precise ingredient dosing (error ≤0.1%). It integrates with material storage tanks for dust-free, automated feeding—saving time and reducing human error.
2. Mixing & Homogenization: Achieve Uniformity
This step combines raw materials into a stable, homogeneous solution—one of the most critical stages for avoiding sedimentation or separation in the final product.
- Pre-Mix Water & Surfactants: Add deionized water to Granda’s Stainless Steel Mixing Tank (304/316L material for corrosion resistance). Heat the water to 40–50°C (104–122°F), then slowly add surfactants (e.g., SLES) while stirring at low speed (300–500 RPM).
- Incorporate Builders & Additives: Once surfactants are fully dissolved, add builders (e.g., STPP) and stir at medium speed (600–800 RPM) for 15–20 minutes. Then add fragrances, dyes, and preservatives—stir gently to avoid foam.
- High-Speed Homogenization: Use Granda’s High-Speed Shear Mixer (1,500–3,000 RPM) to process the mixture for 20–30 minutes. This breaks down tiny particles, ensures ingredient uniformity, and improves the detergent’s texture.
3. pH Adjustment & Defoaming: Optimize Performance
- pH Adjustment: Test the mixture’s pH (ideal range: 7–8 for neutral detergents). Use dilute citric acid (to lower pH) or sodium hydroxide (to raise pH) and stir slowly until the target pH is reached. Granda’s Online pH Monitoring System can track levels in real time, eliminating manual testing delays.
- Defoaming: Foam from mixing can affect packaging and product stability. Add a food-grade defoamer (e.g., silicone-based) at 0.1–0.3% of the total volume, then stir at low speed (200–300 RPM) for 5–10 minutes until foam dissipates.
4. Filtration & Aging: Ensure Purity & Stability
- Filtration: Pass the mixture through Granda’s Bag Filter or Cartridge Filter (5–10 μm precision) to remove undissolved particles or impurities. This prevents clogging in later packaging steps and ensures a clear, high-quality product.
- Aging: Transfer the filtered detergent to Granda’s Aging Tanks (with temperature control). Let it stand at room temperature for 24–48 hours. This allows the solution to stabilize, viscosity to balance, and any remaining micro-foam to disappear.
5. Filling & Packaging: Finalize the Product
The last step is to package the detergent into bottles, pouches, or cans—efficiency here directly impacts your production output.
- Viscosity Check: Before filling, confirm the detergent’s viscosity (usually 500–2,000 cP). Adjust with deionized water (to thin) or cellulose (to thicken) if needed.
- Automated Filling: Use Granda’s Automatic Liquid Filling Machine (customizable for 100mL–5L containers). It features volumetric or flow-meter filling (accuracy ≥99%) and integrates with bottle unscramblers, capping machines, and labeling machines for a seamless line.
- Sealing & Labeling: After filling, cap containers with Granda’s Capping Machine (screw-on or press-on caps) and apply labels with the Automatic Labeling Machine (supports wrap-around or front-back labels). Finally, use a Carton Packing Machine to bundle products for shipping.
6. Quality Control: Maintain Consistency
Throughout production, implement these checks to ensure every batch meets standards:
- Test raw material purity before use (e.g., surfactant active content).
- Monitor mixing temperature and homogenization speed (via Granda’s PLC control system).
- Sample the final product for pH, viscosity, and cleaning performance.
- Use Granda’s Laboratory Testing Equipment (e.g., viscometer, pH meter) for in-house quality verification.
Partner with Granda Machinery for Turnkey Success
Producing liquid detergent efficiently requires more than just following steps—it needs reliable, scalable equipment. Granda Machinery offers customized liquid detergent production lines (from start-up scale to big capacity) that integrate all the above steps, reducing manual labor and maximizing yield.