Surfactants Research

What are Surfactants?

Surfactants contain both hydrophobic (water-disliking) and hydrophilic (water-loving) groups. The hydrophobic group, known as the tail, is often a hydrocarbon chain, while the hydrophilic group, known as the head, can be charged or uncharged.

 Due to this amphiphilic nature (containing both hydrophobic and hydrophilic components), surfactants have unique properties. For example, when added to water, surfactants adsorb strongly to interfaces between water and other phases, like air or oil, which is why surfactants are also known as surface active agents. Surfactants form oriented monolayers at these interfaces, which dramatically reduce the interfacial tension. Surfactants also self-assemble into aggregates called micelles when the concentration exceeds a critical threshold known as the critical micelle concentration (CMC).

Surfactants are classified into four main categories based on the charge of their headgroup:

• Anionic (negatively charged): carboxylates, sulfates, sulfonates
• Cationic (positively charged): quaternary ammonium salts
• Nonionic (no charge): ethoxylates and sugar-based surfactants 
• Zwitterionic (contains both positive and negative charges): betaines and amine oxides

What do Surfactants do?

• Cleaning: Surfactants are key ingredients in detergents and cleaning products. They emulsify grease and dirt particles and prevent them from redepositing on surfaces during rinsing. Common surfactants include linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (anionic) and fatty alcohol ethoxylates (nonionic).
• Emulsification and dispersion: Surfactants are used to stabilize mixtures of immiscible liquids such as oil and water. They also help disperse solid particles in solution. Food, cosmetics, paints and coatings rely heavily on surfactant emulsifiers and dispersants. 
• Foaming and wetting: The ability of surfactants to drastically lower surface and interfacial tension makes them excellent wetting and foaming agents. Applications include foam cleaning and firefighting foams.
• Corrosion inhibition: Some cationic surfactants like imidazolines act as corrosion inhibitors by forming oriented monolayers on metal surfaces.
• Corrosion inhibition: Some cationic surfactants like imidazolines act as corrosion inhibitors by forming oriented monolayers on metal surfaces.

Our team is striving to develop more sustainable surfactant technologies and create innovative solutions for a wide range of industries. We specialize in renewable, biodegradable and CO2-efficient chemical technologies, which can be integrated across industries from home and personal care to industrial coatings, lubricants, agriculture, oil and gas extraction and mining. Led by our Surfactants Research team and through global collaboration at research centers in Germany, India and China, we work hand-in-hand with partners and customers to push boundaries in the field.

Recent innovative surfactant solutions with Surfactants Research contribution are:

• Glucotain/Glucopure range of bio-based, low-CO2 footprint surfactants
• Velsan Flex: a sugar-based preservative booster for personal care
• Genapol Complete: a new, low-CO2 footprint rinse aid for automatic dishwashing
• HYTREAT Eco: a novel, biodegradable and low toxicity low dosage hydrate inhibitor for oilfield application
• Genadvance Hydra: a biodegradable conditioning agent for hair care
• Flotigam 18110: a new, highly effective flotation agent for magnetite ores
• Genamin Gluco 50: a renewable-based, VOC/SVOC-free multifunctional additive without any hazard labeling for paint industry