BRADFORD-based laundry chemical manufacturer Christeyns has highlighted the importance of science in today's industry as part of British Science Week.

The lab team at the international firm, which has part of its UK operations at Rutland Street, in the city, is constantly researching how science and chemical combinations can improve wash outcomes, and how to do so with minimal effect on the environment.

Christeyns believes that such is the the role science plays in innovation in the laundry business, continual research into chemical combinations enables the industry to keep moving forward.

“Over the last decade Christeyns has been looking into ways in which chemical formulations can be rebalanced to reduce the damage to the environment whilst cutting down on operating costs, energy and water consumption but also, and here is the biggest challenge, keeping the quality of the wash high, if not improved,” states Liz Kildunne, the firm's technical manager.

Christeyns set out to develop a process that would extend the usable life of textiles, which had to provide both a gentle and flexible approach, for use with temperatures from 40 degrees C and deliver improved wash results.

Following extensive research and scientific trials, the result was Cool Chemistry. Launched in 2014, Cool Chemistry’s patented approach is able to deliver improved whiteness, even when operating at a neutral pH and reduced temperatures and allows less water to be used for rinsing.

The conventional wash process uses high pH chemistry whereas Cool Chemistry uses a blend of enzymes and super-wetting surfactants that give greater soil-suspension.

This approach provides two benefits: It allows laundries to wash in a neutral pH so the soil stays suspended in the wash water as opposed to on the linen, it is then released with the water leaving the machine.

Secondly the neutral pH chemistry leads to less chemical damage to the textiles thus extending linen life.

Recent developments in science has allowed for the wider use of the gas ozone in the commercial laundry arena.

The ability to replicate ozone production in a specially engineered cabinet is helping laundries to further improve their environmental credentials by washing in cold water whilst the ozone, once used, reverts to oxygen.

New chemical combinations have led to the development of products such as SmartShield, which neutralises the positive charge of the polyquaternium-7 molecule and thus protects towels from shampoo and shower gel stains, and Mulan Solar, a degreaser for sunscreen stains on towels and linen.

British Science Week takes place between March 6 and 15, and is a ten-day celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths.