SS 231 : 2013

(ICS 71.100.40) 

SINGAPORE STANDARD
Specification for laundry detergent
powder for household use in manual
washing

Published by
SS 231 : 2013
(ICS 71.100.40)

SINGAPORE STANDARD
Specification for laundry detergent powder for
household use in manual washing

ISBN 978-981-4353-64-9
SS 231: 2013

This Singapore Standard was approved by the Chemical Standards Committee on behalf of the
Singapore Standards Council on 25 January 2013.

First published, 1980

First revision, 2013

The Chemical Standards Committee, appointed by the Standards Council, consists of the following
members:

Name Capacity

Chairman : Dr Keith Carpenter Member, Standards Council

Deputy
Chairman : Dr Tay Kin Bee Individual Capacity
Secretary 1 : Ms Elane Ng Standards Development Organisation@Singapore
Chemical Industry Council
Secretary 2 : Ms Jillian Chin Standards Development Organisation@Singapore
Chemical Industry Council
Members : Ms Ang Chin Chin Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Ms Feng Ruili SPRING Singapore
Mr Koh Min Ee National Environment Agency
Mr Terence Koh Singapore Chemical Industry Council Limited
Prof Lee Hian Kee National University of Singapore
Dr Lee Tong Kooi Chemical Metrology Division, Health Sciences
Authority
Mr Leong Kwai Yin Individual Capacity
Prof Leung Pak Hing Nanyang Technological University
Mr Lim Eng Kiat Individual Capacity
Mr Lim Kian Chye Housing & Development Board
Dr Jerry Liu Jian Lin Singapore Water Association
Dr Loh Wah Sing Individual Capacity
Dr Ng Sek Yeo Singapore Polytechnic
Ms Pamela Phua Singapore Paint Manufacturers’ Association
Mr Seah Khen Hee Individual Capacity
Mr Tan Yok Gin / PUB, the National Water Agency
Mr Chia Poh Soo
Co-opted
Members : Prof Andy Hor Individual Capacity
Assoc Prof Thomas Liew Individual Capacity
Mr Nee Pai How Individual Capacity
Mr Pitt Kuan Wah Individual Capacity
Mr Wang Hui Hua Individual Capacity

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 SS 231 : 2013

The Technical Committee for Chemistry, appointed by the Chemical Standards Committee and
responsible for the preparation of this standard, consists representatives from the following
organisations:

Name Capacity

Chairman : Mr Leong Kwai Yin Individual Capacity

Secretary : Ms Jillian Chin Standards Development Organisation@Singapore
Chemical Industry Council
Members : Mr Cheah Sin Moh Singapore Polytechnic
Mr Chia Poh Soo Public Utilities Board
Ms Veronica Chow Ministry of Manpower
Dr Gao Feng Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences
Mr Aaron Kalaichelvan / Industrial Gases Association of Singapore
Mr Simon Sim
Mr Koh Chin Yong National Environment Agency
Prof Lee Jim Yang National University of Singapore
Mr Lei Zhi Pei Setsco Services Pte Ltd
Mr Collin Lim Chemical Industries (Far East) Limited
MAJ Loh Eng Choon / Singapore Civil Defence Force
MAJ Lo Wai Mun
Ms Vivian Mak Singapore Chemical Industry Council Limited
Ms June Ng Dow Chemicals Pacific (Singapore) Pte Ltd
Dr Ng How Yong Singapore Water Association
Ms Ong Kah Kee Eastman Chemical Singapore Pte Ltd
Dr Richard Yee Cheong Health Sciences Authority
Shin Koy Sien
Dr Sun Changqing Singapore National Institute of Chemistry
Mr Teah Choon Lee SPCI Pte Ltd
Mr Philip Yeo Hock Beng / Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Mr New Chee Wee

The Working Group, appointed by the Technical Committee for Chemistry to assist in the revision of
this standard, comprises the following experts who contributed in their individual capacity:

Name

Convenor : Dr Ge Xiaowei
Secretary : Ms Jillian Chin
Members : Ms Chong Nyet Chin
Dr Khoo Keng Meng
Mr Koh Min Ee / Ms Ong Li Lian
Mr Lei Zhi Pei
Mr Jeff Li
Dr Li Sihai
Mr Timothy Seah
Ms Sulina Tsai

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SS 231: 2013

The organisations in which the experts of the Working Group are involved are:

Diversey Singapore Pte Ltd

Environmental Management Association of Singapore
Health Sciences Authority
Klenco (Singapore) Pte Ltd
Lam Soon Singapore Pte Ltd
National Environment Agency
NTUC FairPrice Co-operative Ltd
Procter & Gamble
Setsco Services Pte Ltd
TUV SUD PSB Pte Ltd

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 SS 231 : 2013

Contents
Page

Foreword 6

CLAUSES

1 Scope 7
2 Normative references 7
3 Requirements 7
4 Sampling and preparation of test samples 8
5 Tests 8
6 Packaging 8
7 Stability 8
8 Marking 8

ANNEXES

A Determination of total surfactants content (normative) 9

B Primary biodegradability test methods for surfactants in detergents (informative) 15
C Ultimate biodegradability (mineralisation) test methods for surfactants in detergents
(informative) 17
D Determination of total phosphates - gravimetric method (normative) 18
E Determination of pH value (normative) 21
F Determination of insoluble matter (normative) 22

TABLE

1 Requirements of laundry detergent powder for household use in manual washing 7

A.1 Determination of insoluble matter (normative) 14

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SS 231: 2013

Foreword
This Singapore Standard was prepared by the Technical Committee for Chemistry under the direction
of the Chemical Standards Committee.

Although laundry detergent powder can be of the anionic, cationic or non-ionic type, the specification
only covers the anionic type which is used widely.

Besides specifying the detergent to be of the anionic type, the standard also prescribes that the
anionic surface active agents (surfactants) shall be biodegradable.

In preparing this standard, reference was made to the following overseas publications:

1. 2012 Annual Books of ASTM Volume 15.04 – Soaps and other detergents
2. Canadian Government Built powder laundry detergent
Specifications Board Standard
CAN/CGSB-2.115-95 (Aug 1995)
3. Indian Standard 4955 : 2001 Household laundry detergent powders (fourth
revision)
4. South African Bureau of Standards Laundry detergent (for use in non-automatic domestic
SANS 650 : 2008 washing machines)
5. ISO 607: 1980 Analysis of formulated detergents. Methods of
sample division
6. ISO 2271:1989 Surface active agents – Detergents – Determination
of anionic-active matter by manual or mechanical
direct two-phase titration procedure
7. ISO 4313 – 1976 (E) Washing powders – Determination of total
phosphorus (V) oxide content – Quinoline
phosphomolybdate gravimetric method
8. EC Regulation No 648/2004 of the Detergents
European Parliament and of the
Council of 31 March 2004

Acknowledgement is made for the use of information from the above references.

Annexes B and C of this standard were extracted with permission from the Regulation (EC) No
648/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 on detergents – Annex II
and Annex III, respectively.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this Singapore Standard may be the
subject of patent rights. Enterprise Singapore shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all of
such patent rights.

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 SS 231 : 2013

Specification for laundry detergent powder for household use in

manual washing

1 Scope
This standard covers the requirements and methods of sampling and testing for synthetic powder
detergents for household washing of laundry by hand.

2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this standard. The latest
editions of the referenced documents (including any amendments) apply.

BS 1647-1 pH measurement. Specification for pH scale

BS 1752 Specification for laboratory sintered or fritted filters including porosity grading

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