Builders General Information Builders are the most common component in alkaline cleaners. Builders aid in suspending soils and in preventing soil redeposition. Typical builders are sodium salts of phosphates, carbonates, silicates, hydroxides, zeolites, sodium silicates and EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid). Builders may also act as water softeners and as sequestering and buffering agents. The phosphate-based builders are used less frequently than they once were because of the effect phosphate has on the eutrophication of lakes and rivers. State Information | Glossary | Conversion Checklist | Comments Home | Process Advisor | Alternatives | Links | Search All SAGE material, Copyright© 1992, Research Triangle Institute Last Update: 14 March 1995 sage@rti.org http://clean.rti.org/alt.cfm?id=bl&cat=gi