Eco-friendly detergent made from wood and corn

March 25, 2025

Сleaning products, ranging from laundry detergents to dishwasher pods, play a crucial role in everyday life by taking care of our cleanliness and hygiene needs. However, the chemicals that make these products so effective are often difficult to break down in the environment. As a result, they can accumulate in water systems giving rise to ecosystem-altering algal blooms, which disrupt aquatic life, deplete oxygen levels, and harm biodiversity.

To address this issue, researchers funded by China’s Key Technologies R&D Program—under the country’s Ministry of Science and Technology—have created a sustainable plant-based detergent made of tiny wood fibers and corn protein that removes stains on clothes and dishes just as well as regular commercial products available in the market.

Plant-based detergent offers greener alternative

Eco-friendly cleaners are usually challenging to produce, difficult to rinse off, and come with high manufacturing and retail costs, along with potential damage to surfaces and fabrics. In contrast, the environmentally compatible vegan detergent developed by the research team led by Pengtao Liu comprises ingredients derived from abundant renewable sources.

By blending cellulose nanofibers from wood with zein protein from corn, the scientists developed an emulsion. Cellulose’s ability to both attract and repel water makes it effective at forming emulsions and capturing different types of stains, while zein protein stabilizes the mixture and traps oils.

Liu and colleagues then evaluated the cleaning effectiveness of the cellulose/zein detergent on cotton fabrics and dishes stained with ink, chili oil, and tomato paste. They compared its performance against laundry powder and commercial dish soap solutions using deionized water.

Detergent outperforms traditional cleaners at higher strength

When tested on cotton fabric, the cellulose/zein detergent was slightly less effective than a laundry powder solution at the same 1% dilution by weight. However, when increased to a 5% concentration, it removed stains more effectively than the 1% laundry powder solution.

Microscopic analysis revealed that the cellulose/zein detergent left no residue on the cotton fabric after washing and rinsing, indicating that it is unlikely to damage the material.

To further evaluate its effectiveness, the researchers tested the detergent on chili oil stains on ceramic, stainless steel, glass, and plastic plates. The cellulose/zein detergent cleaned nearly as well as commercial dish soap at the same dilution, and at a 5% concentration, it proved superior.

For instance, on stainless-steel plates, a 5% solution of cellulose/zein removed 92% of the stains, while a 1% solution of commercial dish soap removed 87%. According to the researchers, these results indicate that their natural detergent could serve as an efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable alternative to synthetic cleaning agents currently available on the market.

Growing public awareness of the environmental impact of household products, which contain ingredients like alkylphenol polyethoxylates and phosphates, has driven interest in replacing traditional cleaners with natural alternatives. The latest invention is being seen as part of this movement.