SURFACTANTS

Surfactants are compounds that lower the

surface tension of a liquid, allowing easier
spreading, and lowering of the
interfacial tension between two liquids, or
between a liquid and a solid. Surfactants
may act as: detergents, wetting
agents, emulsifiers, foaming agents, and
dispersants.
 PROPERTIES
Surfactants reduce the surface tension of water
by adsorbing at the
liquid-gas interface.
They also reduce the interfacial tension
between
oil and water by adsorbing at the liquid-liquid
interface.
Many surfactants can also assemble in the bulk
solution into aggregates.
Examples of such aggregates are vesicles and
micelles.
CLASSIFICATION
On the basis of their hydrophylic or
solubilizing groups present in the molecule
the surfactants are classified into four
types :

ANIONIC SURFACTANTS
CATIONIC SURFACTANTS
NONIONIC SURFACTANTS
AMPHOLYTICS SURFACTANTS
ANIONIC SURFACTANTS

The hydrophilic group in anionic surfactant is polar & negatively

charged in aqueous solutions or dispersions.
These are best for water absorbing fibres such as cotton, wool, &
silk.
Example:
Sulphates & sulphated products e.g. fatty alcohol sulphates,
ethylene oxide adduct sulphates.
Sulphonates e.g. alkyl benzene sulphonates (ABS), linear alkyl
benzene sulphonates (LAS), Petroleum sulphonates, Dialkyl
sulphonates, Olefins sulphonates etc.
Carboxylates e.g. Soaps & Amino carboxylates.
Phosphate esters e.g Na or K-alkyl phosphates.
Example:
Sulphates & sulphated products e.g. fatty alcohol sulphates,
ethylene oxide adduct sulphates.
Sulphonates e.g. alkyl benzene sulphonates (ABS), linear alkyl
benzene sulphonates (LAS), Petroleum sulphonates, Dialkyl
sulphonates, Olefins sulphonates etc.
Carboxylates e.g. Soaps & Amino carboxylates.
Phosphate esters e.g Na or K-alkyl phosphates.
CATIONIC SURFACTANTS

These include amines salts, & quaternary ammonium

compounds.
The amino group or quaternary nitrogens bears a positive
charges when dissolved in aqueous medium.
These acts as wetting agents rather than detergents.
These are also used as softners for textiles & paper.
These can also be used as antibacterial algicides agents.
EXAMPLES

Amines containing oxygen amide oxides, poly

oxyethylene, alkylamines.
Amines not containing oxygen (aliphatic mono, di, &
polyamines & resin derived amines)
Amines having amide linkage & quaternary
ammonium salts.
NONIONIC SURFACTANTS
These sufractants bear no charge when dissolved or
dispersed in aqueous medium.
The hydrophilic tendency in a non-ionic surfactants is due
to presence bonding with water molecules.
Hydroxyl groups & ether linkages are the strongest
hydrophilic groups in non-ionic surfactants.
Non-ionic surfactants are more effective than anionic
surfactants in removing soil at the lower temperatures
necessarily for laundering synthetic fibres.
They are also more effective for removing body oils.
EXAMPLES
Ethylene oxide adducts e.g. polyoxy ethylene
surfactants, ethoxylated alkyl phenols & aliphatic
alcohols etc.
Polymeric nonionics.
Alkylol-amides & sorbital compounds.
Carboxyic esters & amides.
AMPHOTYLIC SURFACTANTS
These surfactants contain both cationic &
anionic groups.
These can behave as anionic or cationic
according to whether the solutions is in the
basic or acidic pH range.
These are used in cosmetics, shampoos,
water emulsions paints & a corrosion
inhibitors, emulsifying & wetting agents.
EXAMPLES
N-fatty-ᵦ-amino propionic esters.
Sodium lauroyl-sarcosinate is used in tooth paste
composition.