C11D - Definition 
Definition statement
This subclass covers:
Detergent compositions based essentially on surface-active compounds, such as anionic, cationic or non-ionic compounds;
Compounding ingredients for such compositions, e.g. compounds such as carbonates, animal products or polymers;
Detergent compositions based essentially on non-surface active compounds, e.g. peroxides, hydrocarbons, enzymes;
Detergent compositions based essentially on soap;
Use of single substances, such as surface-active compounds, as detergents;
Detergent compositions based on more than one type of compound;
Methods of preparing compositions containing mixtures of detergents;
Making soap or soap solutions in general;
Making resin soap or soaps derived from naphthenic acids, and compositions thereof;
Detergent materials or soaps characterised by their physical properties; and
Recovery of glycerol from a saponification liquor.
References relevant to classification in this subclass
This subclass does not cover:
Chemical paint or ink removers | C09D 9/00 |
Cleaning or degreasing metallic material by chemical methods other than electrolysis | C23G |
Bleaching, dry-cleaning or washing of fibres or fabrics | D06L |
Treating fibres or fabrics with chemicals | D06M |
Preparations specially adapted for washing the hair, or for cleaning the teeth or mouth | A61K 8/00, A61Q 5/02, A61Q 11/00 |
Special washing compositions for cleaning semi-permeable membranes | B01D 65/06 |
Informative references
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Disinfectants as such | A01N |
Methods or apparatus for disinfection or sterilisation | A61L |
Use of substances as emulsifying, wetting, dispersing or foam-producing agents | B01F 17/00 |
Refining glycerol | C07C 31/22 |
Polishing compositions | C09G |
Special rules of classification
When classifying in the mixture groups of this subclass, any individual ingredient of a composition which is not identified by such classification, and which itself is determined to be novel and non-obvious, must also be classified in groups C11D 1/00-C11D 9/00. The individual ingredient can be either a single substance or a composition in itself.
Any ingredient of a composition which is not identified by the above classification, and which is considered to represent information of interest for search, may also be classified in groups C11D 1/00-C11D 9/00. Such non-obligatory classification should be given as "additional information".
In groups C11D 1/02-C11D 1/94 in groups C11D 3/02-C11D 3/39 in groups C11D 7/02-C11D 7/46 and in groups C11D 9/06-C11D 9/42, in the absence of an indication to the contrary, classification is made in the last appropriate place.
Glossary of terms
In this subclass, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:
| Amphoteric surfactants | Amphoteric surfactants contain both acidic and basic groups in their molecule, and can act as cationic or anionic detergents, depending on the pH of the solution, or as both cation and anion. |
| Anionic surfactants | Anionic surfactants have a negatively-charged surface-active ion. An example is sodium alkylbenzene sulfonate. |
| Cationic surfactants | Cationic surfactants (also known as invert soaps) are a type of ionic synthetic surfactant in which the surface-active part of the molecule is the positively-charged cation. Typical are the quaternary ammonium salts such as cetrimide, benzalkonium chloride, domiphen bromide and cetyl pyridinium bromide; all have bactericidal activity. |
| Compounding ingredients | The non-surface-active ingredients in a detergent composition, e.g. binders and water-softening agents. |
| Detergents | Detergents are basically any cleaning materials. Such materials may or may not contain surfactants. The term "synthetic detergent" is also used as a synonym for "surfactant" (excluding soaps, which are not considered synthetic), which is a compound, or a mixtures of compounds, whose molecules have two distinct regions one that is hydrophilic and has an affinity for water, and another that is hydrophobic, with little (if any) affinity for water. These compounds can aid in the solubilisation of hydrophobic compounds in water. See examples below of particular types of surfactant (detergent). |
| Non-ionic surfactants | Non-ionic surfactants are synthetic surface active agents which are such that the molecules do not ionise in aqueous solution. Typical are the surfactants based on condensation products of ethylene oxide with a hydrophobe. |
| Resin soap | A yellow soap containing resin, used for bleaching. It is made by adding a certain quantity of resin (rosin or colophony), as much as 50 % and more of the fat employed, to the mass in the soap boiler towards the end of the process. |
| Soaps | Soaps have the same properties as those mentioned above for surfactants, but in general soaps are not considered as synthetic detergents. Soap is a particular type of surfactant derived from oils and fats, and is created through the saponification process whereby the ester linkage in a vegetable oil or fat is hydrolytically cleaved using an alkali (NaOH or KOH), yielding glycerol and crude soap. Soaps usually consist of the alkaline salts of fatty acids, chiefly palmitic, stearic or oleic acids. Soft soaps contain the potassium salts, whereas the sodium salts are hard soaps. Metallic soaps include water-insoluble compounds of fatty acids with bases of copper, aluminium, lithium, calcium etc. Soaps are examples of anionic surfactants. Synthetic detergents have generally superseded soap as a laundry aid. |
| Surface-active compounds/agents (surfactants) | Substances which have the effect of reducing the surface tension of a solvent, an example being a detergent or soap dissolved in water. These substances, also known as wetting agents, contain a combination of polar (hydrophilic) and non-polar (hydrophobic) parts which serve to bind oil and water together. They locate at the phase boundary between the water phase and the organic phase, or if there is no room there, they will congregate together and form micelles. Both synthetic detergents and soaps are surfactants. |
| Surfactants | See "Surface-active compounds/agents". |