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EAS 296 (2011) (English): Liquid

household hand dishwashing detergent —
Specification
 EAS 296:2011
ICS 71.100.40

EAST AFRICAN STANDARD

Liquid household hand dishwashing detergent — Specification

EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY

© EAC 2011 First Edition 2011

EAS 296:2011

CONTENTS
Page

FOREWORD ............................................................................................................................. III

1 SCOPE ................................................................................................................................... 1

2 NORMATIVE REFERENCES ................................................................................................ 1

3 DEFINITIONS ........................................................................................................................ 1

4 REQUIREMENTS .................................................................................................................. 1

5 SAMPLING AND COMPLIANCE WITH THE STANDARD.................................................... 2

6 PACKING AND MARKING..................................................................................................... 3

ANNEX A: DETERMINATION OF INSOLUBLE MATTER ........................................................ 4

ANNEX B: MEASUREMENT OF PH VALUE ............................................................................ 5

ANNEX C: DETERMINATION OF RINSING PROPERTIES ..................................................... 6

ANNEX D: DETERMINATION OF MOISTURE AND VOLATILE MATTER. ............................. 7

ANNEX E: DETERMINATION OF INORGANIC SALTS ........................................................... 8

ANNEX F: BIBLIOGRAPHY ..................................................................................................... 13

ii © EAC 2011 – All rights reserved

 EAS 296:2011

Foreword

Development of the East African Standards has been necessitated by the need for harmonising
requirements governing quality of products and services in East Africa. It is envisaged that through
harmonised standardisation, trade barriers which are encountered when goods and services are
exchanged within the Community will be removed.

In order to achieve this objective, the Partner States in the Community through their National Bureaux
of Standards, have established an East African Standards Committee.
The Committee is composed of representatives of the National Standards Bodies in Partner States,
together with the representatives from the private sectors and consumer organisations. Draft East
African Standards are circulated to stakeholders through the National Standards Bodies in the Partner
States. The comments received are discussed and incorporated before finalisation of standards, in
accordance with the procedures of the Community.

East African Standards are subject to review, to keep pace with technological advances. Users of the
East African Standards are therefore expected to ensure that they always have the latest versions of
the standards they are implementing.

© East African Community 2002 — All rights reserved *

East African Community
P O Box 1096
Arusha
Tanzania
Tel: 255 27 2504253/8
Fax: 255-27-2504481/2504255
E-Mail: eac@eachq.org
Web: www.each.org

*
© 2002 EAC — All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for EAC Partner States’ NSBs.

© EAC 2011 – All rights reserved iii

EAST AFRICAN STANDARD EAS 296:2011

Liquid household hand dishwashing detergent ⎯ Specification

1 Scope
This East African Standard specifies requirements for liquid detergent for household dishwashing. It
does not cover detergent for machine dishwashing and multipurpose cleaning.

2 Normative references

ISO 2268, Surface active agents (non-ionic) ⎯ Determination of polyethylene glycols and non-ionic
active matter (adducts) ⎯ Weibull method.

ISO 2271, Surface active agents-Detergents ⎯ Determination of anionic-active matter (direct two-
phase titration procedure)

3 Definitions
For the purpose of this standard the following definitions apply.

3.1
liquid detergent
A liquid preparation consisting of surface active agents as base and primarily used for cleaning
household kitchen utensils.

3.2
surface active agent
A chemical compound which, when dissolved or dispersed in a liquid, is preferentially adsorbed at an
interface, thereby giving rise to a number of physico-chemical properties of practical interest. The
compound includes at least one group having an affinity for markedly polar surfaces, ensuring in most
cases solubilisation in water, and another group which has little or no affinity for water.

3.3
product unit
A unit of the final product packed in a suitable container.

3.4
lot
A number of containers consisting of product units of the same size type and style, which have been
manufactured under essentially the same conditions.

4 Requirements
4.1 General requirements

4.1.1 Materials

The liquid detergent shall consist essentially of anionic, cationic, non-ionic or surface active agents or
their mixture. It may contain added materials such as buffers, preservatives, emollients, opacifiers,
stain removers, perfumes, viscosity controlling agents, foam control agents or approved colouring
agents and these shall not have any irritant or undesirable effect on the skin and hands under normal
condition of usage.

4.1.2 Appearance

© EAC 2011 – All rights reserved 1

EAS 296:2011

4.1.2.1 The liquid detergent shall be a uniform aqueous solution, which, if so required, may be
coloured. When examined visually shall be homogenous and free from any sediment or foreign
matter.

4.1.2.2 It shall be free from abrasives and organic solvents, and solids shall not precipitate from it
during storage at ambient temperature.

4.1.2.3 It shall not be irritating to the skin and it shall not contain any ingredients in quantity that is
toxic to human beings under normal conditions of use.

4.1.2 Consistency

On being cooled to 4.5 °C ± 0.5 °C for 24 hours, the detergent shall show no separation and shall
remain liquid.

4.1.3 Odour

When so required, the detergent shall be perfumed. The detergent and solution of the detergent in
water at 60 °C ± 2 °C shall have an acceptable odour. During storage at ambient temperature, the
odour of the detergent shall remain such as to be acceptable, and when perfumed, the fragrance shall
not change.

4.1.4 Residual test

The detergent shall not leave residual test on washed articles.

4.1.5 Rinsing properties

When tested according to annex c the detergent shall be free-rinsing

4.1.6 Storage stability

The detergent shall, after storage period of 12 months in the original container under normal storage
conditions specified by the manufacturer, still comply with all the requirements of this standard.

4.1.7 Cleaning efficiency

When the detergent is tested in accordance with Annex G, its cleaning efficiency shall be not lower than
that of the standard detergent.

4.2 Chemical and physical requirements

The liquid detergent shall also comply with the requirements of the Table 1.

Table 1 ⎯ Chemical and physical characteristics

S/N Parameter Requirement Method of test

1 Matter insoluble in water, max, % 0.5 Annex A
(m/m)
2 pH value range 6.0 – 9.0 Annex B
3 Total surface active matter content, 12 ISO 2268
min ISO 2271
4 Inorganic salts content, % (m/m), max 5 Annex E
5 Formaldehyde Shall be absent Annex F

5 Sampling and compliance with the standard

5.1 Sampling

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 EAS 296:2011

The following sampling procedure shall be applied in determining whether a lot complies with the
relevant requirements of the standard. The samples so drawn shall be deemed to represent the lot.

5.1.1 From the lot draw at random five containers,

a) if the lot is packed in containers of a net volume not exceeding 5 litres or

b) three containers, if the lot is packed in containers of net volume exceeding 5 litres

Inspect the containers for compliance with the requirements of 4.1.

5.1.2 From each of the containers drawn take specimen of approximately equal volume so as to
provide a composite sample of total volume at least one litre. Use this sample for testing.

NOTE Before drawing a specimen, thoroughly mix the contents of the relevant container.

5.2 Compliance with the standard

The lot shall be deemed to comply with the requirements of this standard if, after inspection and
testing, the samples taken in accordance with 5.1 are found to comply with the relevant requirements
of the standard.

6 Packing and marking

6.1 Packing

Liquid detergent shall be filled in suitable containers and shall be properly sealed with a tamper proof
seal. The containers shall be strong enough to withstand normal handling and transportation and that
will prevent leakage and contamination of the product.

6.2 Marking

The container and carton boxes where used, shall be clearly marked with the following information:

a) the words " liquid detergent for hand dishwashing";

b) the name of the liquid detergent or the registered trade mark;

c) the volume of contents ;

d) list of ingredients

d) the code number or batch number; and

e) the name and address of the manufacturer

f) instructions for use

g) Date of manufacture

h) best before date

© EAC 2011 – All rights reserved 3

EAS 296:2011

Annex A
(Normative)

Determination of insoluble matter

A.1 Principle

A known mass of sample is diluted and filtered. The residues are then dried to constant mass.

A.2 Procedure

A.2.1 Weigh, to the nearest (to ±0.001 g) approximately 5 g of the test sample , into a 400 ml
beaker and add 200 ml of distilled water. Heat on a steam bath, with frequent stirring, until the sample
is completely dispersed.
A.2.2 Filter the solution immediately, under suction, through a previously dried and tared sintered
glass crucible of porosity 2. Ensure that the insoluble matter is quantitatively transferred to the filter.
A.2.3 Wash the beaker and the residue in the crucible five times with 40 ml of hot distilled water.
A.2.4 Allow the wash solution to drain completely and dry the crucible to constant mass at 105 ± 2
o
C in an air oven.
A.2.5 Calculation
The insoluble matter content S is given, as a percentage by mass, by the formula

M4 − M2
S= x 100
M1

where,
M1 is the mass, in grams, of the test sample;
M2 is the mass in grams of the sintered glass crucible;
M4 is the mass, in grams, of the sintered glass crucible and the residue after drying.

4 © EAC 2011 – All rights reserved

 EAS 296:2011

Annex B
(Normative)

Measurement of pH value

Dissolve 1.0 ml of the test sample in 100 ml of carbon-dioxide free distilled or de-ionised water and
measure the pH, at room temperature, using a pH meter equipped with a glass electrode capable of
measuring pH values to an accuracy of 0.1 or better.

© EAC 2011 – All rights reserved 5

EAS 296:2011

Annex C
(Normative)

Determination of rinsing properties

C.1 Accurately weigh (to ±0.001g) approximately 0.4 g of the test sample into a thoroughly cleaned
500 ml conical flask and add 200 ml of the distilled water.
C.2 Stopper the flask and shake it vigorously for 1 minute
C.3 Pour out the solution and rinse the flask by adding 200 ml of the distilled water, shaking
vigorously for 1 minute and pour off the water.
C.4 Invert the flask and allow to dry.
C.5 Carry out a blank repeating the above procedure but omitting the test sample.
C.6 Compare the two flasks.

6 © EAC 2011 – All rights reserved

 EAS 296:2011

Annex D
(Normative)

Determination of moisture and volatile matter

D.1 Principle
A known mass of sample is oven-dried to constant mass.
D.2 Procedure

Weigh, to the nearest 0.001g, 5 g of the sample in a tared evaporating dish, which has been
previously dried and cooled. Heat the dish and its content on a steam bath until most of the volatile
matter has escaped. Continue heating at 105 oC ± 20 oC in an oven for 2 hours. Cool in a desiccator
and weigh. Repeat the operation of heating, cooling and weighing until the difference in mass
between two successive weighing is less than 0.01g. Retain the residue in the dish for subsequent
test as per E.3.
D.3 Calculation

The moisture and volatile matter content is given, as a percentage by mass, by the formula

(M 1 − M 2)
x 100
( M 1 − Mo)
where

MO is the mass, in grams, of the dish

M1 is the mass, in grams, of the dish and the sample before heating
M2 is the mass, in grams, of the dish and the sample after heating

© EAC 2011 – All rights reserved 7

EAS 296:2011

Annex E
(Normative)

Determination of inorganic salts

E.1 Procedure

Take the dish containing the material after evaporation as obtained in 6.2. Heat it at 450 oC in a muffle
furnace to destroy organic matter. Cool the dish and its contents, add a few drops of concentrated
sulphuric acid and heat again to dryness. Cool and weigh. Repeat the process of heating, cooling and
weighing until constant mass is obtained.

E.2 Calculation

The inorganic salts content is given, as a percentage by mass, by the formula

⎛ ( M 1 − M 3) ⎞
⎜⎜ x100 ⎟⎟
⎝ ( M 1 − Mo ) ⎠
where
Mo is the mass, in grams, of the dish as per D.
M1 is the mass, in grams, of the dish and the sample before heating as per D.
M3 is the mass, in grams, of the dish and the residue.

8 © EAC 2011 – All rights reserved

 EAS 296:2011

Annex F
(normative)
Determination of formaldehyde
F.1 Reagents
Ammonium nitrate, 15 g
Acetyl acetone, 0.2 mL
Acetic acid (glacial), 0.3 mL
Distilled water, dilute to 100 mL

F.2 Procedure
Add 2.5 mL of the reagent to the sample in a clean glass container. Sample size is about 0.5 g solids
and liquids. Heat the mixtuew for 10 min at 60 °C. A yellow colour develops if formaldehyde is
present. This is due to the formation of 3,4-diacetyl-1,4-dihydrolutidine
Positive controls (0.025 % to 0.1 % formaldehyde) and negative control (distilled water) should be
tested for comparison.

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EAS 296:2011

Annex G
(normative)

Cleaning efficiency

G.1 Apparatus

a) basin - A flat-bottom flask crystallizing basin of diameter of approximately 40mm;

b) Beakers - 800ml beakers of inside diameter approximately 90 and height

approximately
135mm;

c) clamp - A suitable clamp that can be so fitted to the stirrer as to allow a panel to be
gripped and rotated with its long dimension vertical,

2) Whatman GF/A glass fibre filler paper or equivalent is suitable.

d) test panel - A plastic panel of size 100mmx38mmx3mm cut phenolic laminated sheet
that will not soften, swell, or lose mass when immersed in chloroform for 24h. Mark a
soiling area of 64mmx38mm on each face of the panel;

e) stirrer - A mechanical stirrer capable, when supporting a test panel, of operating

smoothly and continuously at 60rpm-62rpm;

f) water bath - A water bath of suitable size and capable of maintaining 750ml detergent
solution at 40.4ºC ± 0.1oC;

g) watch-glass - of diameter approximately 40mm and

h) spatula - fitted with a flexible steel blade.

G.2 Materials

a) acetone, analytical grade;

b) chloroform, analytical grade;

c) soil, unhomogenized fat shortening of softening point 38.0°C and 39.0oC and

d) standard detergent- A standard detergent having mean cleaning efficiency of 85 ± 1%.

The softening point is determined as follows:

Cut three softening point tubes of length 50mm to 60mm from capillary tubing of inside diameter 0.83mm
to 1.1mm and wall thickness of 1mm. Heat the soil to approximately 80oC and remove any impurities
and traces of moisture by filtering it at this temperature through a bed of chemically pure anhydrous
sodium sulphate on filter paper. So dip three tubes into the soil (at ± 80oC) that the soil rises to a height
of approximately 10mm in each tube, and chill immediately by holding the tubes against a piece of ice.
When the soil has solidified, place the tubes in a tingly stoppered test tube and keep them for 10min in a
refrigerator or water bath at 4ºC-10oC. Transfer the stoppered test tube and contents to another water
bath maintained at 10ºC -12oC and leave in this water bath for 20min. Remove the tubes and attach
them by means of a rubber band to a total immersion thermometers having a range of –2oC to + 80oC

10 © EAC 2011 – All rights reserved

 EAS 296:2011

and conforming to the requirement for low softening point thermometers. So position them that the lower
ends of the tubes are level with the bottom of the mercury bulb. Add distilled water at 10ºC - 12ºC to a
500ml beaker to a depth of 70mm and suspend the thermometer and tubes vertically in the water so that
bottom of the thermometer is immersed to a depth of about 30mm, agitate the water with a slow stream
of air or by some other suitable means and heat in such a manner that the temperature of the water is
raised uniformly at a rate of 2oC per min. Continue heating until the soil column in each tube rises and
note the temperature at which each column commences to rise. Take the mean of the three results as
the softening point of the soil.

G.3 Procedure

Carry out simultaneously three determinations on the test sample taken in accordance with 5.1.2 and
three determinations on the standard detergent as follows:

a) Using a syringe, pipette 1.00ml of the standard detergent or the test sample as
o
relevant into about 950ml of the standard water (see 6.2) at 25ºC ± 2 C, then make up
to 1 litre in a volumetric flask with the standard hard water and mix the solution well.
Transfer 750ml of this detergent solution to a 800ml beaker (6.6.1) (b), and place it, in
the water bath. Adjust the temperature of the water bath to maintain the temperature of
the detergent

b) Melt approximately 15g of the soil in an oven maintained at 50ºC ± 2ºC, then
weigh 1000g ± 0.003g of the melted soil into the watch glass and place it in the oven.
Let the rest of the melted soil set for not less than 2h at 25 ºC ± 2oC and, using a glass
rod stir the solidified fat into a smooth paste.

c) Thoroughly clean the panel with chloroform. Weigh out accurately 0.300 ± 0.003g
of the soil paste on to one soiling area of the panel. With the spatula, divide the soil
portion into approximately equal portions, and transfer one portion to the other
soiling area. Make sure no spread soil is lost, and that no soil extends over the
edges of the panel. In each case remove any soil adhering to the blade of the
spatula by wiping both sides of the blade along one of the edges of the panel and
spread the scraped off soil over the relevant soiling area. Repeat this procedure
until only a very small amount of scraped off soil adheres the edge of the panel. So
fit the prepared panel in the clamp (6.6.1) (c) that the jaws of the clamp are
positioned of the panel above the soiled areas and attach this panel assembly to the
stirrer. So adjust the panel that its long dimension is vertical.

d) When the detergent solution has approximately reached the test temperature,
remove the watch-glass containing the melted soil from the oven and immediately
and carefully submerge in the detergent solution stir the detergent solution gently with
a glass rod for 1min, then let it stand until it has reached temperature
equilibrium and almost all of the foam has disappeared (approximately 2h).

NOTE - With certain products the foam layer may still persist after 2h Disregard such foam layer and
continue with 6.6.3 below.

e) Carefully lower the panel into the centre of the detergent solution until the surface of
the solution reaches the marked top lines of the soiling areas. Leave the vertically
immersed panel in the detergent solution for 1min without agitation and then rotate
it for 10min at 60rpm - 62rpm. At the end of this period let the detergent solution
come to rest, and slowly withdraw the panel assembly vertically from the
detergent solution. Avoid any possible foam adhering to the panel. Then lower
the panel assembly carefully into the centre of a beaker containing 750ml of
distilled water maintained at 40.4ºC ± 0.1oC, until the water level just reaches the
marked top lines of the soiling areas. Rotate the panel for one min at 60rpm –
62rpm. At the end of this period let the water come to rest, slowly withdraw the

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EAS 296:2011

panel assembly vertically from the rinse bath, and let the panel cool in a vertical
position for approximately 2 min.

f) Remove the panel from the clamp and transfer the remaining soil from it into a
tared basin by thoroughly rinsing each side of the panel with a sufficient amount
of the chloroform from a wash bottle. Evaporate on a steam bath until free from
chloroform, add approximately 15ml of acetone, and evaporate to dryness
(approximately 30min). Leave the basin in a desiccator over-night and then weigh
the basin and contents,

NOTE - The preparation of the panel and the washing and rinsing procedure shall be done in a room
maintained at 25 ± 2°C,G.4 Calculation

(0.3 – B) x 100
Soil removal, % =
0.3

where

B = mass of soil recovered in the basin.

Report the soil removal of the test sample as the mean of the five determinations.

12 © EAC 2011 – All rights reserved

 EAS 296:2011

Bibliography

SABS 825, Hand dish washing and light duty detergent (liquid)
SABS 20825, Environmentally acceptable hand dish washing and light duty detergent (liquid)
MS 80, Specification for liquid detergent for household hand dish washing

© EAC 2011 – All rights reserved 13

 EAS 296:2011

©EAC 20011-All rights reserved