Surfactants are a primary component of cleaning detergents. The word surfactant means surface active agent. As the name implies, surfactants stir up activity on the surface you are cleaning to help trap dirt and remove it from the surface.
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Surfactants have a hydrophobic (water-hating) tail and a hydrophilic (water-loving) head. The hydrophobic tail of each surfactant surrounds soils. The hydrophilic head is surrounded by water.
When there are a sufficient amount of surfactant molecules present in a solution they combine together to form structures called micelles. As the micelle forms, the surfactant heads position themselves so they are exposed to water, while the tails are grouped together in the center of the structure protected from water.
The micelles work as a unit to remove soils. The hydrophobic tails are attracted to soils and surround them, while the hydrophilic heads pull the surrounded soils off the surface and into the cleaning solution. Then the micelles reform with the tails suspending the soil in the center of the structure.
The hydrophilic head of each surfactant is electrically charged. The charge can be negative, positive, or neutral. Depending on the charge of the hydrophilic head, the surfactant is classified as anionic, nonionic, cationic or amphoteric.
Anionic surfactants have a negative charge on their hydrophilic end. The negative charge helps the surfactant molecules lift and suspend soils in micelles. Because they are able to attack a broad range of soils, anionic surfactants are used frequently in soaps and detergents. Anionic surfactants create a lot of foam when mixed. While anionic surfactants are excellent for lifting and suspending particulate soils, they are not as good at emulsifying oily soils.
Sulfates, sulfonates, and gluconates are examples of anionic surfactants.
Nonionic surfactants are neutral, they do not have any charge on their hydrophilic end. Nonionic surfactants are very good at emulsifying oils and are better than anionic surfactants at removing organic soils. The two are frequently used together to create dual-action, multi-purpose cleaners that can not only lift and suspend particulate soils, but also emulsify oily soils.
Certain nonionic surfactants can be non-foaming or low-foaming. This makes them a good choice as an ingredient in low-foaming detergents.
Nonionic surfactants have a unique property called a cloud point. The cloud point is the temperature at which the nonionic surfactant begins to separate from the cleaning solution, called phase separation. When this occurs, the cleaning solution becomes cloudy. This is considered the temperature for optimal detergency. For low foaming cleaners, optimal detergency is at the cloud point; for foaming cleaners optimal detergency is either just below the cloud point or at the start of the cloud point. The agitation of low foaming cleaners is sufficient to prevent phase separation.
The temperature of the cloud point depends upon the ratio of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic portions of the nonionic surfactant. Some cloud points are at room temperature while others are very high. Some nonionic surfactants don&#;t have a cloud point because they have a very high ratio of hydrophilic to hydrophobic moieties.
Examples of some common nonionic surfactants include cocamide, ethoxylates, and alkoxylates.
Cationic surfactants have a positive charge on their hydrophilic end. The positive charge makes them useful in anti-static products, like fabric softeners. Cationic surfactants can also serve as antimicrobial agents, so they are often used in disinfectants.
Cationic surfactants cannot be used with anionic surfactants. If positively charged cationic surfactants are mixed with negatively charged anionic surfactants, they will fall out of solution and no longer be effective. Cationic and nonionic surfactants, however, are compatible.
Examples of some common cationic surfactants include alkyl ammonium chlorides.
Amphoteric surfactants have a dual charge on their hydrophilic end, both positive and negative. The dual charges cancel each other out creating a net charge of zero, referred to as zwitterionic. The pH of any given solution will determine how the amphoteric surfactants react. In acidic solutions, the amphoteric surfactants become positively charged and behave similarly to cationic surfactants. In alkaline solutions, they develop a negative charge, similar to anionic surfactants.
Amphoteric surfactants are often used in personal care products such as shampoos and cosmetics. Examples of some frequently used amphoteric surfactants are betaines and amino oxides.
Surfactants are a key ingredient in cleaning products. One thing that differentiates cleaning products is how they are made. Cleaners made from a single chemical, targeting a specific type of soil, are referred to as commodity cleaners. Cleaners that are blends of various chemical ingredients designed to work together to remove various types of soils are referred to as formulated cleaners.
Formulated cleaners usually contain four basic elements: surfactants, hydrotropes, builders and carriers. Hydrotropes are chemicals that keep the otherwise incompatible surfactants and builders stable in a solution. The carrier is either water or a solvent. These elements work together to create mechanical actions to remove soils. The end result is a product that can attack dirt on surfaces with a variety of cleaning mechanisms including emulsifying, lifting, dispersing, sequestering, suspending and decomposing soils of various types. The type of surfactants used in a cleaning product largely determines which soils they will be best at removing.
IPC offers a full line of formulated cleaners that among the safest yet most effective solutions on the market. Request a free sample to test our products for your most challenging cleaning applications.
Tweet PrintSurfactants are the hidden heroes of the cleaning world. These remarkable molecules play a crucial role in a wide range of products, from household cleaners to personal care products. But what exactly are surfactants and how do they work? That's exactly what you'll learn in the following article.
Surfactants are chemical compounds known as surface-active substances . They have the unique ability to reduce the surface tension between two liquids or between a liquid and a solid. This property allows surfactants to act as effective cleaning agents and emulsifiers in cleaning products. They are also known as detergents. Generally speaking, they can be divided into two main categories.
The structure of a surfactant typically includes a hydrophobic (water-repelling) part and a hydrophilic (water-attracting) part. The hydrophobic part binds to dirt and oil , while the hydrophilic part binds to water . This combination allows surfactants to disperse dirt particles and grease in water so they can be removed during rinsing or washing .
In cleaning products, surfactants are crucial for efficiency. Not only do they help to dissolve dirt and grease, but they also allow these contaminants to remain suspended in the washing solution and not settle back on the clean surface. Through the way they work, surfactants make a significant contribution to effectively cleaning surfaces and improving the appearance and hygiene of textiles , dishes and other cleaned items. But what types of surfactants are there and how do they differ?
Surfactants are complex molecules. They have their own structure that determines their effectiveness in cleaning products. They can be divided into different categories based on their molecular structure and charge properties. Here is an overview of their structure and classification:
Hydrophobic (water-repellent) part: This part of the surfactant molecule is usually a long hydrocarbon chain. It has an aversion to water but an affinity to oils and fats, which allows it to bind to dirt .
Hydrophilic (water-loving) part: This is the part of the molecule that attracts water and can dissolve well in water . It often consists of a group of atoms that carry a positive, negative, or no charge.
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Surfactants are classified based on the charge properties of their hydrophilic portion. The following four types are most commonly used in cleaning products:
With the information mentioned, you have already gained a small overview of the world of surfactants. In order to expand your knowledge and be fully informed the next time you shop, we would like to take a closer look at the individual types of surfactants.
Anionic surfactants are a class of surfactants in which the hydrophilic (water-loving) part of the molecule is negatively charged. This negative charge is created when the molecule dissociates in an aqueous solution, making it able to interact with water and clean effectively. The hydrophobic (water-repelling) part of these surfactants is usually made up of long hydrocarbon chains that bind to fats and oils.
Advantages of anionic surfactants
Possible disadvantages of anionic surfactants
Biodegradable and skin-friendly variants are always preferable. This reduces the negative impact on the environment.
Non-ionic surfactants are a type of surface-active substance characterized by the fact that their hydrophilic part does not carry an electrical charge. They achieve their cleaning effect by lowering the surface tension of water, which makes it easier to mix with oils and fats. Without a charge, non-ionic surfactants tend to be mild and less reactive with other chemical substances, which makes them very versatile.
Advantages of non-ionic surfactants
Possible disadvantages of non-ionic surfactants
If you value environmental compatibility and gentle cleaning, then most cleaning products that contain non-ionic surfactants are generally a good choice. Because they offer an optimal balance between cleaning performance and environmental responsibility .
Cationic surfactants are a category of surface-active substances whose hydrophilic head carries a positive charge. These positively charged molecules tend to bind to negatively charged surfaces, such as many types of dirt and microbial cell walls. This property makes them effective disinfectants and fabric softeners.
Advantages of cationic surfactants
Possible disadvantages of cationic surfactants
Cleaning products containing cationic surfactants are not recommended . Where they are necessary, attention should be paid to more environmentally friendly formulations and safer applications in order to minimize environmental impact and health risks.
Amphoteric surfactants, also known as zwitterionic surfactants, are characterized by their ability to carry both positive and negative charges depending on the pH of the solution in which they are found. They have a unique molecular structure that allows them to change their charge. At a low pH they behave more like cationic surfactants and at a high pH they resemble anionic surfactants.
Benefits of amphoteric surfactants
Possible disadvantages of amphoteric surfactants
The properties mentioned make amphoteric surfactants particularly versatile and gentle in use, making them a popular choice in personal care products and for sensitive surfaces. They are able to clean effectively while being less irritating to the skin or material surfaces than other surfactant types .
To find out which surfactants you might want to avoid, it's important to look at the ingredient list. The following tips will help you make a good decision:
As you have already noticed, you don't have to be a chemist to find your way through the product jungle. With the help of the tips mentioned, you can easily find products that are a good fit for your skin and your ecological awareness.
If you have to choose between synthetic and natural surfactants, products with green surfactants such as sugar-based ones are always the better choice . Natural surfactants are obtained from renewable sources and are environmentally friendly as they tend to be more biodegradable.
Unlike their synthetic counterparts, which are often petroleum-based and can cause irritation on sensitive skin, natural surfactants are kinder to the skin. They offer effective cleaning power without compromising on environmental and skin-friendliness. Therefore, choosing products with green surfactants is not only a conscious choice for health, but also supports a sustainable lifestyle.
Surfactants are essential ingredients in the world of cleaning products that play a central role due to their ability to reduce surface tension. They allow water to interact with oils and fats, effectively removing dirt and grease from various surfaces. Their versatility allows the right surfactant to be found for every application, from powerful degreasing household cleaners to gentle personal care products.
Surfactants are chemical compounds used in cleaning products to reduce the surface tension of liquids. This allows them to mix water with oils and fats, allowing the removal of dirt and grease from surfaces.
Some conventional surfactants can be harmful to the environment, but there are many biodegradable and environmentally friendly alternatives. It is important to look for products with sustainably sourced and biodegradable surfactants.
Surfactants can affect water quality, especially if they are not fully biodegradable. However, eco-friendly surfactants are designed to break down quickly in the environment without leaving harmful residues.
There are surfactants that are obtained from natural sources and are suitable for use in biological cleaning products. These are often of plant origin and meet ecological standards.
When buying cleaning products, it is important to pay attention to the type of surfactants and their origin. Products containing biodegradable and environmentally friendly surfactants are preferable, especially for households with children, pets or sensitive people.
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