ASTM D459-16

Standard Terminology Relating to Soaps and Other Detergents

SCOPE
1.1 This terminology covers soaps and other detergents.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 30-Jun-2016
• ICS: 01.040.71 - Chemical technology (Vocabularies)
• ICS: 71.100.40 - Surface active agents
• Technical Committee: D12 - Soaps and Other Detergents
• Drafting Committee: D12.32 - Nomenclature and Definitions

Relations

• Referred By: ASTM E1519-16(2020) - Standard Terminology Relating to Agricultural Tank Mix Adjuvants
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2016
• Referred By: ASTM D4711-89(2017) - Standard Test Method for Sulfonic and Sulfuric Acids in Alkylbenzene Sulfonic Acids
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2016
• Referred By: ASTM D2281-10(2016) - Standard Test Method for Evaluation of Wetting Agents by the Skein Test
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2016
• Referred By: ASTM D2180-17 - Standard Test Method for Active Oxygen in Bleaching Compounds
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2016
• Referred By: ASTM D1173-23 - Standard Test Method for Foaming Properties of Surface-Active Agents
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2016
• Referred By: ASTM D1331-20 - Standard Test Methods for Surface and Interfacial Tension of Solutions of Paints, Solvents, Solutions of Surface-Active Agents, and Related Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2016
• Referred By: ASTM D4251-89(2016) - Standard Test Method for Active Matter in Anionic Surfactants by Potentiometric Titration
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2016
• Referred By: ASTM D5806-95(2017) - Standard Test Method for Disinfectant Quaternary Ammonium Salts by Potentiometric Titration
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2016
• Referred By: ASTM D2330-20 - Standard Test Method for Methylene Blue Active Substances
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2016
• Referred By: ASTM D3048-89(2016) - Standard Test Method of Assay for Alkaline Protease
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2016
• Referred By: ASTM D5548-13(2020) - Standard Guide for Evaluating Color Transfer or Color Loss of Dyed Fabrics in Laundering (Not Suitable for Detergent or Washing Machine Rankings)
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2016
• Referred By: ASTM D501-03(2023) - Standard Test Methods of Sampling and Chemical Analysis of Alkaline Detergents
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2016
• Referred By: ASTM D8179-18 - Standard Guide for Characterizing Detergents for the Cleaning of Clinically-used Medical Devices
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2016
• Referred By: ASTM D820-93(2023) - Standard Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Soaps Containing Synthetic Detergents
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2016
• Referred By: ASTM D4252-89(2017) - Standard Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Alcohol Ethoxylates and Alkylphenol Ethoxylates
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2016

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D459 − 16
Standard Terminology Relating to
1,2
Soaps and Other Detergents
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D459; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope active ingredient of a synthetic detergent—the organic
surface-active material present in the detergent.
1.1 This terminology covers soaps and other detergents.
active oxygen—in cleaning compounds, the oxidizing power
2. Referenced Documents
of oxygen present as peroxide or other active oxygen-
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
containingmoietiesinsolutionexpressedasoxygen(equiva-
D460Test Methods for Sampling and ChemicalAnalysis of
lent weight 8.00).
Soaps and Soap Products
D820Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Soaps Con- alkaline detergent—under detergent, see inorganic alkaline
detergent.
taining Synthetic Detergents
D2330Test Method for Methylene Blue Active Substances alkyl benzene sulfonate (in the context of soaps and
4
(Withdrawn 2011) detergents)—the detergent produced by sulfonating deter-
D2667Test Method for Biodegradability of Alkylbenzene gent alkylate; any surface-active substance having the mo-
4
Sulfonates (Withdrawn 2013)
lecular structure of a benzene sulfonic acid having as a ring
D2960Guide for Controlled Laundering Test Using Natu- substituent(s) an alkyl group(s) sufficiently large to confer
rally Soiled Fabrics and Household Appliances (With-
detergent properties.
4
drawn 2013)
ampholytic surfactant or amphoteric surfactant—see surface-
D4265Guide for Evaluating Stain Removal Performance in
active agent.
Home Laundering
anhydrous soap—under soap, see anhydrous soap.
D5548GuideforEvaluatingColorTransferorColorLossof
anionic detergent—under detergent, see anionic detergent.
DyedFabricsinLaundering(NotSuitableforDetergentor
artificially soiled cloth (sometimes called “standard soiled
Washing Machine Rankings)
cloth”)—clothsoiledwithoneormorematerialsandusedto
3. Terms and Definitions
evaluate the effectiveness of detergents or washing equip-
ment.
ABS—an abbreviation for alkyl benzene sulfonate. Although
strictly speaking this might apply to any such compound,
available chlorine in cleaning compounds—the oxidizing
present practice is to use it for those containing branched
power of chlorine present as hypochlorite or other oxidizing
chains. (See LAS).
chlorine moieties in solution, expressed as chlorine of
equivalent weight 35.45, and as determined by thiosulfate
acid-wash color—the color developed in the separated acid
titration.
when a sample of detergent alkylate is agitated with sulfuric
acid under the conditions prescribed by the method.
bathroom soil—the soil composed of water insoluble, or
practically insoluble, materials or a mixture of these
1
This terminology is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D12 on Soaps
materials, present on typical bathroom surfaces other than
and Other Detergents and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D12.32 on
those of floors and toilets.Amajor component of this soil is
Nomenclature and Definitions.
Current edition approved July 1, 2016. Published August 2016. Originally
the insoluble precipitate, commonly referred to as “soap
approved in 1937. Last previous edition approved in 2009 as D459-09. DOI:
scum,” that is deposited when soap is used in hard water.
10.1520/D0459-16.
2
A “Handbook of Industry Terms” is available from the Soap and Detergent
blended soap—under soap, see blended soap.
Association, 475 Park Ave. S., New York, NY 10016. This is an essentially
brightener—see fluorescent whitening agents (FWA).
nontechnical list of definitions of interest to the soap and detergent industry. It is
referenced here for information purposes only.
brightening agent—see fluorescent whitening agents (FWA).
3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
buffer action—the resistance of a solution to change in pH.
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
builder—a material added to a soap or synthetic detergent
the ASTM website.
4
formulation that enhances or maintains the cleaning effi-
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
www.astm.org. ciency of the surfactant, principally by inactivating water
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D459 − 09 D459 − 16
Standard Terminology Relating to
1,2
Soaps and Other Detergents
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D459; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This terminology covers soaps and other detergents.
2. Referenced Documents
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D460 Test Methods for Sampling and Chemical Analysis of Soaps and Soap Products
D820 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Soaps Containing Synthetic Detergents
4
D2330 Test Method for Methylene Blue Active Substances (Withdrawn 2011)
4
D2667 Test Method for Biodegradability of Alkylbenzene Sulfonates (Withdrawn 2013)
4
D2960 Guide for Controlled Laundering Test Using Naturally Soiled Fabrics and Household Appliances (Withdrawn 2013)
D4265 Guide for Evaluating Stain Removal Performance in Home Laundering
D5548 Guide for Evaluating Color Transfer or Color Loss of Dyed Fabrics in Laundering (Not Suitable for Detergent or
Washing Machine Rankings)
3. Terms and Definitions
ABS—an abbreviation for alkyl benzene sulfonate. Although strictly speaking this might apply to any such compound, present
practice is to use it for those containing branched chains. (See LAS).
acid-wash color—the color developed in the separated acid when a sample of detergent alkylate is agitated with sulfuric acid under
the conditions prescribed by the method.
active ingredient of a synthetic detergent—the organic surface-active material present in the detergent.
active oxygen—in cleaning compounds, the oxidizing power of oxygen present as peroxide or other active oxygen-containing
moieties in solution expressed as oxygen (equivalent weight 8.00).
alkaline detergent—under detergent, see inorganic alkaline detergent.
alkyl benzene sulfonate (in the context of soaps and detergents)—the detergent produced by sulfonating detergent alkylate; any
surface-active substance having the molecular structure of a benzene sulfonic acid having as a ring substituent(s) an alkyl
group(s) sufficiently large to confer detergent properties.
ampholytic surfactant or amphoteric surfactant—see surface-active agent.
anhydrous soap—under soap, see anhydrous soap.
anionic detergent—under detergent, see anionic detergent.
artificially soiled cloth (sometimes called “standard soiled cloth”)—cloth soiled with one or more materials and used to
evaluate the effectiveness of detergents or washing equipment.
available chlorine in cleaning compounds—the oxidizing power of chlorine present as hypochlorite or other oxidizing chlorine
moieties in solution, expressed as chlorine of equivalent weight 35.45, and as determined by thiosulfate titration.
1
This terminology is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D12 on Soaps and Other Detergents and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D12.32 on
Nomenclature and Definitions.
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2009July 1, 2016. Published November 2009August 2016. Originally approved in 1937. Last previous edition approved in 20082009 as
D459-08a.-09. DOI: 10.1520/D0459-09.10.1520/D0459-16.
2
A “Handbook of Industry Terms” is available from the Soap and Detergent Association, 475 Park Ave. S., New York, NY 10016. This is an essentially nontechnical list
of definitions of interest to the soap and detergent industry. It is referenced here for information purposes only.
3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
4
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on www.astm.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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D459 − 16
bathroom soil—the soil composed of water insoluble, or practically insoluble, materials or a mixture of these materials, present
on typical bathroom surfaces other than those of floors and toilets. A major component of this soil is the insoluble precipitate,
commonly referred to as “soap scum,” that is deposited when soap is used in hard water.
blended soap—under soap, see blended soap.
brightener—see fluorescent whitening agents (FWA).
brightening agent—see fluorescen
...