Application of surfactants.

Any substance that dissolves in water and significantly reduces the surface energy of water is called a surfactant (surface active agent, SAA).

The molecular structure of surfactants is amphiphilic, with one end consisting of a non-polar hydrocarbon chain (lipophilic group), the hydrocarbon chain length of which is generally more than 8 carbon atoms, and the other end consisting of one or more polar groups (hydrophilic groups). Polar groups can be dissociated ions or non-dissociated hydrophilic groups, such as carboxylic acid, sulfonic acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, amino or amine groups and salts of these groups, or hydroxyl groups, amide groups, ether bonds, carboxylate groups, etc.

Several Types of Surfactants

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

Sodium lauryl sulfate is an anionic surfactant with strong detergency and rich foaming properties. It is commonly used in specialty laundry detergents and personal cleansing products.

It is very effective in removing grease and dirt.

It should be noted that it can be somewhat irritating to the skin, so it is often formulated with other milder surfactants.

It is widely used in the cleaning industry for its strong cleaning power, especially for tackling stubborn stains.

Sodium Alkylbenzene Sulfonate

Sodium alkylbenzene sulfonate is an economical surfactant commonly used in traditional laundry detergents and low-priced liquid laundry detergents. It offers strong cleaning power, quickly breaking down grease and stains, leaving clothes feeling fresh and new.

However, it performs less well in hard water, significantly reducing its cleaning effectiveness, so it often needs to be used in combination with other ingredients.

Also, it can be somewhat irritating to the skin, but fortunately, it is highly biodegradable, resulting in a relatively low environmental impact.

Alkyl Glycosides

This type of surfactant is a nonionic surfactant, with alkyl glucosides such as cocoyl glucoside, decyl glucoside, and lauryl glucoside being the most commonly used. These surfactants are typically produced from renewable resources such as coconut oil and glucose. They offer excellent cleaning power, low residue, and are fully biodegradable, making them safe, gentle, and environmentally friendly. 

Betaines

Betaine surfactants are a type of amphoteric surfactant. Common betaine surfactants on the market typically have the following structure: XX amide X base betaine, such as cocamidopropyl betaine and laurylamidopropyl betaine. These surfactants are also very mild, have a moderate cleaning power, and are highly biodegradable.