Customer Reviews

How to Formulate & Compound Industrial Detergents

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book was written by an author who actually did formulation himself. The book is very instructive. Buy it.

The book was outdated and it does not help much in formula details for the reader to formulate their own detergents as the title dictates. Yes, compounding the chemical of manufacturers intruduced heavily inside this book profits more than the green horn readers.

Author without any chemical education wrote a book that must be called "bucket chemist reference book". Hundreds of funy statements with many errors. If you are at least at BSc, dont buy the book. I have background in detergents and many statements are funny, non-professiona. many things he calls "synergistics" are basic science. If you want to develop business, hire a professional.

Practical guide to chemical compounding, with plenty of formulas. Simple and mostly non-technical. Good indexes.

I know it may sound silly, but this book has had a significant impact on my life. I will tell you why in a minute. I have been an entrepreneur for over 20 years. During this time I have started 5 businesses. In fact, I have made millions of dollars in some of them, and sadly yes, lost millions in others. One thing I learned though was that if you want to be successful in life and business, be generous with people. It doesn't have to be money. Sometimes time and advice can be more important than money will ever be.

For the last few years I have been searching for another business to start. After a lot of research I decided that the ideal business for me at this time in my life is the industrial chemical solutions business. Dave's book was exactly what I needed. His story is the story of the entrepreneur. Anyone who is one knows what I mean. He has done the grunt work needed to become a success....and passed some of those lessons onto us.

I am well read, just not in chemistry. Dave has written this book in a very easy to understand and logical style. For this motivated entrepreneur, it has been a real breath of fresh air.

Oh yeah, one more thing. Dave has been extremely generous with his time. He has answered many questions that I had. Most were already answered in the book but he has always responded in kindness and with great detail.

Thanks Dave.

A very happy entrepreneur!

As the author, I'd like to share a little history about myself: I worked 5 years for a major west-coast chemical manufacturer, then spent 8 years on my own compounding, formulating, and selling industrial detergents and solvents. I believe 13 years in the business more than qualifies me to write the book.

In the beginning, I found, and bought, many expensively priced formula books. However, although they contained plenty of formulas, they lacked in the basic how and why of detergent compounding. Worse, they were so technically oriented I could not understand the text. What I wanted most was just a straightforward book on the craft of formulating and compounding industrial detergents. Therefore, I ended up writing "How to Formulate and Compound Industrial Detergents."

This book will give the novice a basic understanding of the terminology, products, and methods available to the detergent formulator. I have tried not to be too technical, keeping in mind that the beginner does not want to be inundated with science, but would rather deal with simple and practical applications. Nonetheless, some familiarity of the detergent science is necessary, if only to deal intelligently with suppliers (talk the same language) and to fully understand the formulas themselves.

For the reader interested in the more technical aspects of detergency, the books listed in the reference section provide in-depth technical information for further study.

In addition, all the expert technical advice you need is available free from the companies supplying raw materials, as well as free seminars that they host every year. My advice is to read my book first to get a basic understanding of compounding before talking to the company experts.

If I may be allowed to boast just a bit, my book is still the only one I've ever seen that simply and clearly explains the basics of chemical compounding to the novice. In many ways, it has become a little classic among compounders, especially among those who started from the ground up, as I did, without the benefit of a chemistry degree.

Many thanks to all those who have bought the book and who have been so supportive.

David G. Urban
Author: How to Formulate and Compound Industrial Detergents

I have about six feet worth of books on chemicals and formulating detergent blends, representing thousands of dollars invested. This book did more to boil down to the nuts and bolts of the blending business than any of those other books. Information that took me years to glean from countless resources was found in Urban's book... in a well organized manner. He even had a few things that I'd never thought about. I was raised in the chemical industry and have owned my own cleaning chemical company for over 20 years. I wish this book had been available back then. While I would have liked to see some "green" formulation content, it is still very MUCH a worthy investment.

There a few good benchmark detergent formulation books out there but most are way too expensive. This book is very informative on the techniques of blending as well as giving NUMEROUS examples to establish a platform for experimentation. The only thing I wish the book had was more of Dave's adventure in establishing his self in the business. But a quick visit to his website and an email later he was very forthcoming with details. He is a no nonsense personable guy and he organized the book well. Dave, might I suggest a second edition with some nonpetroleum ecofriendly surfactants?

The book arrived on time and the shipment period is reasonable.
I am very satisfied with the book and the packaging. I would rate it as EXCELLENT.
Keep up the good work!

It is a good book that gives a general overview but it is very basic for any scientists or formulators in the home care bussiness