Development of nanofluid detergent based on methyl ester sulfonates surfactant from waste cooking oil and titanium dioxide nanoparticles

In this study, nanofluid detergent was synthesized from methyl ester sulfonate (MES) surfactant and titanium dioxide nanoparticles while MES surfactant was synthesized from waste cooking oil (WCO), a low-cost material. The purpose of this study was to obtain an eco-friendly nanofluid detergent with optimum stability and performance. In the synthesis of MES surfactant, WCO has been purified first then followed by trans-esterification and sulfonation process. Concentrations of MES surfactant and CMC (carboxymethyl cellulose) were varied for detergent synthesis, while TiO ₂ concentration was kept at 0.1%. Performance test of detergent was studied by stain removal and stain degradation test. Optimum quality of MES surfactant was obtained at pH 7 with disalt content of 4.47%. The results showed at MES surfactant concentration of 1.5%, detergent had the best stability about 99% and after the addition of CMC 4%, no sedimentation occurred within two weeks. MES concentration of 1.5% has the best performance for stain removal and after the addition of CMC 4%, detergent performance increased about 14%. While stain degradation test showed that detergent performance can be improved by TiO ₂ photocatalytic reaction, which respectively increased about 11% and after the addition of CMC increased 5%.