From laundry detergent to dishwasher tablets, cleaning products have become an indispensable part of daily life. However, the chemical components that give these products their powerful cleaning abilities are often difficult to degrade and may even trigger algal blooms that alter ecosystems.

Recently, a research team from Tianjin University of Science and Technology proposed an eco-friendly solution—a new type of cleaner made from micron-sized wood fibers and corn protein, whose cleaning performance is comparable to commercially available products. The related study was published in the ACS journal "Langmuir."

As public concern over the environmental impact of household products grows, replacing traditional detergents containing alkylphenol ethoxylates, phosphates, and other ingredients with natural alternatives has become a research hotspot. However, previously developed eco-friendly detergents faced challenges such as difficult preparation, poor rinsing, high production costs, and potential damage to cleaned surfaces. To address these issues, researchers are committed to developing new detergents that are low-cost, easy to produce, highly effective, environmentally friendly, and gentle. A team led by Liu Pengtao has successfully developed a detergent that meets these requirements by utilizing components from renewable resources.

The team combined cellulose nanofibers from wood with zein 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 detergent's cleaning effectiveness on ink, chili oil, and ketchup stains on cotton fabric, comparing it with laundry detergent and commercially available dishwashing liquid at the same dilution ratio (1% by weight).

When testing on cotton fabrics, the cellulose/zein detergent is slightly less effective than the laundry powder solution at a dilution rate of 1%. However, when the concentration is increased to 5%, it is more effective at removing stains than the 1% laundry powder solution.

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

To further assess its effectiveness, researchers tested chili oil stains on ceramic, stainless steel, glass, and plastic plates. At the same dilution, the cellulose/corn protein detergent performed almost as well as commercial detergent, and at a 5% concentration, it proved to be even better.

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

Researchers have indicated that this natural cleaner has the potential to become an efficient, economical, and sustainable alternative to traditional synthetic cleaners. The study received support from China's National Key Research and Development Program.