Dispersants are substances or chemicals that are used to improve the dispersion or uniform distribution of particles in a medium, typically a liquid. The primary goal of dispersants is to prevent agglomeration or clumping of particles, enabling them to remain stably dispersed throughout the medium.
A dispersing agent (or dispersant) in detergent, is a chemical that keeps dirt particles and limescale suspended in the wash water, preventing them from settling back onto cleaned fabrics or accumulating inside the washing machine. These agents work by keeping particles separated and uniformly distributed in the liquid, a process that also helps other detergent components function more effectively.