Synergistic Action of Temperature and pH Factors in the Cleaning of Fatty Acids Soils; Analyzed by Probability Density Functional Method.

In this study, the interaction between the temperature and the pH of soil containing fatty acids with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) aqueous solution was investigated to elucidate their synergistic effect in cleaning. A tergotometer was used for the cleaning test, and the cleaning results were analyzed by the probability density functional method, using the calculated parameter, µ , as an index of the cleaning power. The increase in µ by one of the factors was defined as ΔX or ΔY and the increase in µ by the both factors was defined as Δ(X + Y). It is assumed that there is a synergistic effect when Δ(X + Y) > ΔX + ΔY. The cleaning of fatty acid stains followed the addition rule pertaining to mechanical force and the pH effect. However, synergy was observed between the temperature and the pH effect. This was also supported by the plot of µ vs 1/T and observations using a phase-contrast microscope.