SURFACTANTS

Elsa Loureiro (up202103713)

Master´s Degree in Science and Technology of Nanomaterials
 • Abbreviation of the term Surface Active
INTRODUCTION Agents
• Soft matter
• Amphiphilic molecules that create self-
assembled molecular clusters called micelles
• Adsorption to the interface between a
solution and a different phase, changing their
properties

Fig.1: Micelle Structure. Retrived from: Fig.2: Structure of a surfactant molecule. Retrived from (Chuo et al., 2014)
http://www.chem.ucla.edu/~harding/IGOC/M/micelle.html
 CLASS AND STRUCTURE

•Fig.3: Structure of the different types of surfactants. Retrived

from (Shiri et al., 2019).
Non-ionic
• compatible with all other types of surfactants

cationic
• limited compatibility with anionics
• They adsorb strongly to most surfaces

anionic
• Largest class of surfactants
• Sensitive to hard water
• Non-toxic

Zwitterionic
• smallest class of surfactant
• compatible with all other types of surfactants
• very low eye and skin irritation

Fig.4- Examples of surfactants based on their hydrophilic group.

Retrived from http://www.pharmacy180.com/article/types-of-surfactants-2753/
 BIOSURFACTANTS

• Produced by fungi, bacteria and

yeast
• Low toxicity
• High biodegradability
• Broad pH and temperature range
• Environmentally friendly
• Cost effective compared to
synthetic surfactants

Fig.5. Nature of resources used in biosurfactants production. Retrived from (Banat et al., 2014)
 BIOSURFACTANT PROCESSING

Pre-Treatment Polishing steps

Biosurfacatnt
Removal of Purified Final
production
Substrate bacteria by biosurfactant biosurfactant
using
centrifugation product product
bioreactor

Fig.6. Pre-treatment steps for biosurfactant production.

A
PROPERTIES

B • Micellization
• Increase Solubility
• Surface Tension reduction
• Wetting
• Emulsification

Fig. 7: Micelle formation (A) Retrived from (Dave & Joshi, 2017)
Representation of the mechanism of action of surfactants (B) Retrived
from https://www.ipcol.com/blog/an-easy-guide-to-understanding-
surfactants/
 HLB SYSTEM

Ionic Surfactants Nonionic Surfactants

Hydrophilic • Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance

(HLB): Indicator of the balance
between the hydrophilic group’s
capacity of attracting water and
the lipophilic group’s capacity of
Fig.8. HLB system valuues. Retrived from (Ohadi et al., 2020)
attracting oil.
• Critical Micelle Concentration (CMC): surfactant
concentration at which the micelle formation begins
• Cloud Point: temperature at which there is a phase
separation and the solubility towards water decreases
KRAFFT POINT, CLOUD POINT
• Krafft Point: temperature at which the solubility of
AND CMC
ionic surfactants in water increases drastically
• TC: phase transition line

Fig.9. Conceptual chart of the Krafft point. Retrieved from

(Nakama, 2017)
Fig.10. The concentration and temperature dependency of the phase conditions of a
surfactant aqueous solution. Retrieved from (Nakama, 2017)
 APLICATIONS

Cationic Anionic Zwitterionics Nonionic

• Anticorrosion agent • Anticorrosion agent • Shampoos and • Spermicides

(Surface: Steel) • Powder and liquid personal care • Eletrophoretic
• Hair Conditioner laundry detergentes products (very low techniques
• Bactericide • Emulsifier in eye and skin • Laundry detergentes
• Topical antiseptics Pesticides irritation) • Drug Delivery
• Textile softener • Hand dishwashing
liquids
 Fig.11. Mechanism of heavy metal removal from contaminated soil using biosurfactants.
Retrieved from (Akbari et al., 2018)

• Removal rate of 90-100%

• Cationic surfactants since
soil is composed of
negative charges

REMOVAL OF HEAVY METALS FROM

SOIL
 SURFACTANT-
COATED
NANOPARTICLES

• Decrease in nanoparticle
aggregation
• Nanostructure stabilization

Fig.12. Typical Illustration of surfactant-coated nanoparticles. Retrived from (Miyazawa et al., 2021)
 REFERENCES

• Akbari, S., Abdurahman, N. H., Yunus, R. M., Fayaz, F., & Alara, O. R. (2018). Biosurfactants—a new frontier for social and environmental
safety: a mini review. Biotechnology Research and Innovation, 2(1), 81–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biori.2018.09.001

• Banat, I. M., Satpute, S. K., Cameotra, S. S., Patil, R., & Nyayanit, N. V. (2014). Cost effective technologies and renewable substrates for
biosurfactants’ production. Frontiers in Microbiology, 5(DEC). https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2014.00697

• Chuo, S. C., Ahmad, A., Mohd-Setapar, S. H., & Ripin, A. (2014). Reverse micelle extraction-an alternative for recovering antibiotics. Der
Pharma Chemica, 6(4), 37–44.

• Dave, N., & Joshi, T. (2017). A Concise Review on Surfactants and Its Significance. International Journal of Applied Chemistry, 13(3), 663–672.
http://www.ripublication.com

• Kallapur, S., & Ikegami, M. (2000). The surfactants. American Journal of Perinatology, 17(7), 335–343. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2000-13445

• Knepper, T. P., & Berna, J. L. (2003). Chapter 1 Surfactants: Properties, production, and environmental Aspects. Comprehensive Analytical
Chemistry, 40, 1–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0166-526X(03)40004-4

• Kronberg, B., Holmberg, K., & Lindman, B. (2014). Types of Surfactants, their Synthesis, and Applications. Surface Chemistry of Surfactants
and Polymers, 1–47. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118695968.ch1

• Miyazawa, T., Itaya, M., Burdeos, G. C., Nakagawa, K., & Miyazawa, T. (2021). A critical review of the use of surfactant-coated nanoparticles
in nanomedicine and food nanotechnology. International Journal of Nanomedicine, 16, 3937–3999. https://doi.org/10.2147/IJN.S298606
 REFERENCES

• Nakama, Y. (2017). Surfactants. In Cosmetic Science and Technology: Theoretical Principles and
Applications. Elsevier Inc. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-802005-0.00015-X

• Ohadi, M., Shahravan, A., Dehghannoudeh, N., Eslaminejad, T., Banat, I. M., & Dehghannoudeh, G.
(2020). Potential use of microbial surfactant in microemulsion drug delivery system: A systematic
review. Drug Design, Development and Therapy, 14, 541–550. https://doi.org/10.2147/DDDT.S232325

• Schramm, L. L., Stasiuk, E. N., & Marangoni, D. G. (2003). Surfactants and their applications. Annual
Reports on the Progress of Chemistry - Section C, 99(September 2015), 3–48.
https://doi.org/10.1039/B208499F

• Shiri, M. S. Z., Henderson, W., & Mucalo, M. R. (2019). A review of the lesser-studied microemulsion-
based synthesis methodologies used for preparing nanoparticle systems of the noble metals, Os, Re, Ir
and Rh. Materials, 12(12). https://doi.org/10.3390/ma12121896