Analysis of an Industrial Cleaner to Support Competitor Benchmarking and Product Development

Analysis of an Industrial Cleaner to Support Competitor Benchmarking and Product Development

Background & Client Challenge

An industrial chemical distributor approached our laboratory to better understand the formulation strategy of a commercial cleaner available in the market. As part of their competitive analysis and product development activities, the client required a comprehensive deformulation analysis to identify the major chemical components, their approximate proportions, and their functional roles within the formulation.

The challenge was that the cleaner was a complex water-based system containing multiple functional ingredients, including surfactants, builders, alkaline agents, organic acids, and solvents. Identifying individual compounds alone was not sufficient; the client needed deeper insights into how these components worked together to achieve cleaning performance, formulation stability, and application characteristics.

Our Solution

To characterize the unknown cleaner formulation, our laboratory performed a comprehensive deformulation study using a combination of advanced analytical techniques, including:

The analytical workflow was designed to identify both organic and inorganic components within the formulation. Spectroscopic techniques were applied for functional group identification and material classification, while chromatographic and mass spectrometric methods enabled molecular-level identification of organic compounds. Elemental analysis and titration were further applied to characterize inorganic components and evaluate key formulation parameters. In addition to chemical composition analysis, physicochemical properties including non-volatile content and pH value were evaluated to provide further understanding of the product design and performance characteristics.

Key Findings & Results

The deformulation analysis revealed that the cleaner was a complex formulation composed of water, surfactants, builders, alkaline components, organic acids, solvents, and functional additives. The major ingredient categories and their approximate concentration ranges were identified as follows:

The sample exhibited a strongly alkaline characteristic, with a measured pH value of approximately 14 in diluted aqueous solution. The non-volatile component content was determined to be approximately one-third of the total formulation, indicating a concentrated industrial cleaning product.

Further interpretation of the formulation chemistry suggested a synergistic cleaning system. The combination of alkyl glycoside and potassium fatty acid salts contributed to surfactant performance, while *** functioned as a builder and complexing agent to improve cleaning efficiency, particularly under hard-water conditions.

The coexistence of adipic acid, ***, and sodium hydroxide indicated potential acid–base neutralization interactions within the formulation. Such reactions may generate organic acid salts that contribute to formulation stability and provide additional functional benefits, such as corrosion inhibition.

Value Delivered to the Client

Through comprehensive deformulation analysis, we provided the client with detailed insights into the chemical architecture and functional design of the commercial cleaner. The analytical findings enabled the client to:

• Benchmark competitor products by understanding key ingredient categories and their contribution to cleaning performance;
• Evaluate formulation strategies by linking identified components with product functionality, stability, and application characteristics;
• Support new product development by providing a technical foundation for selecting raw materials and designing comparable formulations;
• Optimize market decisions through a clearer understanding of competitor product composition and formulation approaches.