SURFACTANTS

surface-active molecules

molecules which accumulate at surfaces

Dr Sudaxshina Murdan
Department of Pharmaceutics 1
C. Solid / Liquid interface

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C. Solid / Liquid interface

Hydrophobic solid

Solid surface has a surface

energy (synonymous to
surface tension in liquids)
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C. Solid / Liquid interface

Hydrophobic solid

Where will the surfactant go if you add

some surfactant to this beaker?

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 C Adsorption of surfactants onto hydrophobic
solutes (e.g. carbon) solid/liquid interface

Adsorption - accumulation at interface (surface effect)

As a result, the solid/liquid interfacial tension decreases

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i.e. surfactant reduces the interfacial
tension at a solid/liquid interface

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When surfactant reduces the interfacial
tension at a solid/liquid interface

the solid can be ‘wetted’ by the liquid

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a solid is wetted = a liquid has spread
over its surface

wetting is important

e.g. when making hot chocolate

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 in Pharmacy, wetting is important

for drugs to be suspended or dissolve

when pharmacists are making
medicines

or for a drug to be dissolved in the

body, so that it can be absorbed and act
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 Adsorption of surfactants at interfaces

Adsorption - accumulation at interface (surface effect)

DO NOT CONFUSE WITH ABSORPTION which is the penetration of one component

throughout the body of another 10
 Adsorption of surfactants at interfaces

It is it important for a pharmacist to know about adsorption

e.g. making medicines, treat poisoning using charcoal, stability of medicines.

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 C Adsorption of surfactants onto hydrophobic
solutes (e.g. carbon) solid/liquid interface

Adsorption - accumulation at interface (surface

effect)

DO NOT CONFUSE WITH ABSORPTION which

is the penetration of one component
throughout the body of another

Why is it important for a pharmacist to know

about adsorption?

Use in poisoning, problems caused by

adsorption of drugs, of preservatives etc.
Read in Florence and Attwood for further
information.
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 2 general types of Adsorption

Physical adsorption - adsorbate is bound through weak van der Waals

forces

Chemical adsorption - chemisorption - which involves stronger forces

e.g. ion-exchange process

adsorbent (that which adsorbs e.g. carbon),

adsorbate (that which is adsorbed)

Eg carbon
adsorbent adsorbate

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 Factors affecting adsorption:

Solubility of adsorbate:

H O O H
O

o o
O H

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 Factors affecting adsorption:

• Solubility of adsorbate: adsorption of a solute is inversely related

to its solubility in the solvent from which adsorption occurs, i.e. high
drug solubility is equivalent to low adsorption.

In a homologous series, adsorption increases as the series is ascended

and as the molecules become more hydrophobic. Why?

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 Factors affecting adsorption (Continued)

• pH: pH affects ionisation of a weakly acidic/basic

molecule, thus its aqueous solubility and its adsorption.

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 Factors affecting adsorption (Continued)

• Nature of adsorbent:

particular adsorbents have affinities for particular adsorbates. E.g.

bentonite and kaolin have cation-exchange sites; these have strong
affinities for protonated compounds which they can adsorb by ion-
exchange.

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 Factors affecting adsorption (Continued)

• Influence of surface area of adsorbent

Greater surface area of adsorbent will lead to greater adsorption

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 Factors affecting adsorption (Continued)

• Temperature:
adsorption is an exothermic process, i.e. heat is released upon
adsorption

Free surfactant adsorbed surfactant

thus, an increase in temperature normally leads to a decrease in

adsorption.

A statement of Le Chatelier's Principle

If a dynamic equilibrium is disturbed by changing the conditions, the
position of equilibrium moves to counteract the change.
But small variations in temperature tend not to change adsorption
process to a significant extent
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 References
• Aulton’s Pharmaceutics, The design and manufacture of
medicines, Aulton and Taylor, 5th edition

• Physicochemical Principles of Pharmacy

In Manufacture, Formulation and Clinical Use, Florence and
Attwood, 6th edition

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