From laundry detergent to dishwasher tablets, cleaning products have become an indispensable part of life. However, the chemical ingredients that give these products powerful stain-removing capabilities are often difficult to degrade and may even trigger algal blooms that can change ecosystems.

Recently, a research team from Tianjin University of Science and Technology proposed an environmentally friendly solution—a new type of cleaner made from micron-sized wood fibers and corn protein, which has a decontamination effect comparable to that of commercial products. The related research was published in the ACS journal "Langmuir."

As public concern about the environmental impact of household products grows, replacing traditional cleaners containing alkyl phenol ethoxylates, phosphates, and other components with natural alternatives has become a research hotspot. However, the previously developed eco-friendly cleaners have faced issues such as difficulty in preparation and poor rinsability, leading to high production costs and potential damage to the surfaces being cleaned. To address this, researchers are dedicated to developing low-cost, easy-to-produce, highly effective, environmentally friendly, and gentle new cleaners. The team led by Liu Pengtao has successfully developed a cleaner that meets these requirements using components from renewable resources.

The team combined cellulose nanofibers from wood with corn zein protein from corn to form a stable emulsion system. Cellulose, with its amphiphilic properties, can effectively emulsify and adsorb various stains, while corn protein stabilizes the emulsion and locks in oily substances. The researchers tested the cleaning effectiveness of this detergent on cotton fabrics stained with ink, chili oil, and ketchup, and compared it with laundry powder and commercially available dishwashing liquid at the same dilution ratio (1% weight ratio).

When testing cotton fabric, the effectiveness of the cellulose/corn protein detergent is slightly lower than that of the laundry powder solution at a dilution rate of 1%. However, when the concentration is increased to 5%, it is more effective in removing stains than the 1% laundry powder solution.

Microscope analysis shows that the cellulose/corn protein detergent leaves no residue on cotton fabric after washing and rinsing, indicating that it is unlikely to damage the material.

To further evaluate its effectiveness, researchers tested chili oil stains on ceramic, stainless steel, glass, and plastic plates. At the same dilution, the cleaning effect of cellulose/corn protein detergent was almost as good as that of commercial dishwashing detergent, and at a concentration of 5%, it proved to be better.

For example, on stainless steel plates, a 5% cellulose/corn protein solution removes 92% of the stains, while a 1% commercial detergent solution removes 87%.

Researchers pointed out that this natural cleaner is expected to become an efficient, economical, and sustainable alternative to traditional synthetic cleaners. This research has been supported by China's National Key Research and Development Program.