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Surfactants

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Last updated date: 22nd Mar 2024
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Introduction of Surfactants

Surfactants are one amongst the components detergents which are utilized in the making detergents to eliminate dirt from clothes, skin, and household utensils mainly in bathrooms and kitchens, and extensively employed in industries are referred to as surfactants. From the word 'surface chemical agent', the word surfactant has been derived.


Surfactants perform their functions by segregating the interface between oils or dirt and water. The oil and dirt are kept in suspension functioning their removal. Surfactants play a task during this manner because they include hydrophilic groups like an acid anion (SO3 or CO2), and a hydrophobic group like alkyl chain. Water molecules tend to collect near the latter.


From fats, soaps can be obtained and are the foremost surfactants which are called triglycerides as their esters which are formed by trihydric alcohol, glycerol with fatty acids that have lengthy chain carboxylic acids. With an answer of hydroxide to create soaps, sodium salts of acids triglycerides are hydrolyzed by heating and propane 1,2,3 triol, and this process is termed saponification.


To help with the spreadability of liquid foundations, feel of creams, and humectant of lotions, surfactants utilized in cosmetics are usual. Surfactants are commonly accustomed to help disperse pigments in makeups and emulsify oils for skincare products.


Surfactant Basics

Surfactants are amphiphilic molecules that include hydrophobic and hydrophilic parts. A hydrocarbon, fluorocarbon, or siloxane is that hydrophobic tail. Surfactants are classified on the idea of their polar head because the hydrophobic tails are often similar. The surfactant is termed as non-ionic if the top group has no charge. it's called anionic or cationic, respectively if the pinnacle group encompasses a negative or electric charge. The surfactant is named zwitterionic if it contains both positive and negative groups.


The most used surfactant types within the industry anionic and nonionic surfactants. Anionic surfactants are mostly employed in cleaning products like laundry detergents and shampoos. Nonionic surfactants on the opposite hand are often employed in wetting agents and within the food industry. Both cationic and zwitterionic surfactants are dearer to supply and that they are more for special use.


Action of Surfactants

  1. Surfactants encompass hydrophobic and hydrophilic portions.

  2. The molecules of the surfactant are adsorbed by the oil and hence it's off from the surface.

  3. The molecules of the surfactant surround the oil after it's been removed and prevents it from depositing again.

  4. Skin irritancy of surfactants is said to have their physicochemical properties. Surfactants may be divided into two well-separated classes i.e. toxic and mild surfactants. Non-ionic surfactants will be toxic and ionic surfactants will be mild.

  5. Surfactants are compounds that minimize the physical phenomenon between two liquids, between a liquid and a solid, or between a gas and a liquid. As detergents, wetting agents, emulsifiers, foaming agents, or dispersant surfactants may act.

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Manufacture

The glycerides contain unsaturated and saturated carboxylic acids which are utilized in making surfactants that contain even numbers of carbon atoms within the range of 12-20 like saturated fatty acid, CH₃(CH₂)16CO₂H.


One major edge over soaps has been held by the synthetic surfactants. Since insoluble magnesium and calcium salts are formed by the soaps with magnesium and calcium ions in H2O and clays that exist within the dirt wherein making an insoluble scrum lot of soap goes vainly. However, by employing a synthetic surfactant this will be avoided. The carboxylate group is replaced by sulfonate because of the hydrophilic component as an example, in anionic surfactants. over salts of carboxylic acids, the corresponding magnesium, and calcium salts are soluble in water.


Uses of Surfactants

A broad range of surfactants like Emulsifiers, foaming agents, and wetting agents are utilized. With respect to the phase, surfactants minimize the surface tension and hence lie at the heart of interfacial chemistry.


Fun Facts

  1. Pulmonary surfactant is a complex mixture of phospholipids (PL) and proteins (SP) that minimize surface tension at the air-liquid interface of the alveolus.

  2. Synthetic or petrochemical feedstocks have been produced by oil, gas, and chemical processing.

  3. Skin irritancy of surfactants is related to their physicochemical properties. Surfactants can be divided into two well-separated classes i.e. toxic and mild surfactants. Non-ionic surfactants can be toxic and ionic surfactants can be mild.

FAQs on Surfactants

1. What is the Purpose of a Surfactant and What are the Common Surfactants?

Ans: The main function of the surfactant is to minimize the surface tension at the air/liquid interface within the alveoli of the lung. This is required to lessen the work of breathing and to prevent alveolar collapse at end-expiration.


Carboxylates comprise the carboxylate salts (soaps), such as sodium stearate, and are the most common surfactants. The more specialized species such as perfluorononanoic, perfluorooctanoate (PFOA or PFO) sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, and carboxylate-based fluorosurfactants.

2. Do Surfactants Disinfect and it’s Bad?

Ans: Disinfection and sterilization is a recommended part in healthcare to work in concert with other antimicrobial agents (CDC, 2019a) surfactants and detergents, which lift soils from surfaces.


In several human activities, surfactants are widespread due to the series of excellent performances like wetting and emulsifying. Into the environment the discharged wastewater, resulting in harming aquatic life, polluting the water, and a large number and endangering human health.

3. What are Examples of Surfactants?

Ans: A good example of a surfactant is sodium stearate. In soap, it is the most common surfactant. 4-(5-dodecyl) benzenesulfonate is another common surfactant. Docusate (dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate), alkyl ether phosphates, benzalkonium chloride (BAC), and perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) are the other examples.