The following communiqué issued by the Ministry of Health in 2005 describes certain test methods: Communiqué on Test Methods for Biodegradability of Anionic, Nonionic, Ampholytic, Cationic Surfactants in Detergents and Biodegradability of Anionic and Nonionic Surfactants. This disclosure describes the biodegradability rates of anionic, nonionic, cationic and ampholytic active substances contained in detergents and their test methods.

The present disclosure includes detergents, surfactants, thickeners, fillers, and similar excipients in the form of liquids, creams, powders, granules, bars and tablets, general cleaning in industry, workplaces and households, washing, dishwashing and the like. The cleaning products used in cleaning works are auxiliary washing products and laundry softener cleaning agents used for wetting, rinsing or bleaching the laundry.

According to the aforementioned communiqué, detergents containing cationic surfactants with a biodegradability of less than 90 percent cannot be placed on the market. Detergents of this nature should not harm human and animal health under normal conditions of use.

Due to the antiseptic properties after cleaning with cationic active substances, dusting after cleaning is later. In the meantime, the soil removal property is also high in cationic active substances, and therefore such detergents are somewhat expensive.

The standards used in the tests carried out in accredited laboratories are as follows:

• Surface active substances - Detergents - Determination of the content of cationic active substance - Part 2871: High molecular mass cationic active substance

This standard describes a method applied to detect high molecular mass cationic active substances.

• TS EN ISO 2871-2 Surfactants - Detergents - Determination of cationic active ingredient content - Part 2: Low molecular mass (between 200 and 500) cationic active substance

This standard describes a method for detecting low molecular mass cationic active substances.