What Are Surfactants?

I. Definition and Classification of Surfactant

Surfactant is a substance that significantly reduces the surface tension of a solution when added in small quantities (physical chemistry, interfacial phenomena). The molecular structure of surfactants usually contains hydrophilic polar groups and hydrophobic non-polar carbon chains or rings.

Surfactants and Anti-Micelles

Surfactants can be divided into ionic and non-ionic surfactants according to their structure, and ionic surfactants can be divided into cationic surfactants, anionic surfactants, and amphoteric surfactants.

Surfactants Classifications

II. Surfactant Decontamination Mechanisms

Surface tension of the solution decreases significantly with the addition of surfactant, and when the amount added exceeds the cmc value, the surfactant is arranged in the solution in the form of micelles.

In daily washing, we often add laundry detergent, washing powder and other detergents to the laundry, and the active ingredient is surfactant. The principle of surfactants in removing stains is shown in the diagram below.

Stain Removal Schematic

III.Surfactants and the Laundry Industry

With the increasing variety of synthetic surfactants, the laundry industry has developed rapidly. Taking clothing cleaning as an example, we use detergents from laundry powder to laundry liquid, and then from laundry liquid to laundry sheets and laundry tablets.

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When it comes to laundry products, the first thing that comes to our mind may be laundry powder, laundry liquid, laundry tablets, laundry blocks and other household cleaning products, but in fact, the laundry industry also includes personal cleaning products, industrial and public cleaning products in two major sectors. The following is an introduction to the three sectors are some of the products.

1. Household cleaning products.

In this section you may be more familiar with the clothing cleaning, and in the home cleaning many of the supplies are also considered this section of the product, listing the types of products are as follows.

In the clothing cleaning products are: soap, laundry powder, laundry liquid, laundry sheet, laundry tablet, laundry gel and so on.

In the home cleaning products are: cleaning dishes with detergent, floor cleaner, kitchen grease cleaner, washing machine sink cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, pipeline fast unclogging liquid.

2. Personal cleaning products.

In this part of the product we are more familiar with, after all, are used every day. Common personal cleaning products are shampoo, shower gel, toothpaste, mouthwash and other personal cleaning products.

3. Industrial and public cleaning products.

For this part of the understanding is relatively small, mainly refers to the disinfectant used for public disinfection of disinfectant solution and so on.

IV. FAQ of Surfactants

1. What is the principle of surfactants?

Through the affinity of different parts of the molecule for the two phases respectively, so that both phases regard it as a component of this phase, the molecule is arranged between the two phases, so that the surface of the two phases is equivalent to the transfer of the molecule inside. This reduces the surface tension. Since both phases regard it as a component of the original phase, it is equivalent to the fact that there is no interface between the two phases and the surfactant molecule, which is equivalent to the partial elimination of the interface between the two phases in this way, thus reducing the surface tension and surface free energy.

2. What is an example of a surfactant?

One example is sodium stearate, which is commonly found in soap. Other examples include sodium alkylbenzene sulfonates, potassium alcohol sulfates, sodium dodecyl sulfates, and 4-(5-dodecyl)benzenesulfonate.

3. Are surfactants harmful to humans?

Surfactants can be harmful to humans as they can disrupt enzyme activity and have some toxicity, which may accumulate in the body. They can also be irritating on mucous membranes.

4.What is the function of surfactants in cleaning products?

The biggest characteristic of surfactant is adsorption, it can adsorb completely and thoroughly to both solution and solid forms. Firstly, it can adsorb positively to the solution, which can increase the number of wetting ions in the solution, and secondly, the solution is also more solution foaming. The main reason is that it can make the water tension in the liquid greatly reduced, and then through the adsorption of positive ions in the solution to make the liquid blur the boundaries of water and oil. Secondly, it can increase the adsorption property of solid surface, but it only adsorbs the solid surface unilaterally. Thirdly, it can adsorb polar solids at multiple levels, and this level is still more thorough.

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