APPLICATION STATUS OF SURFACTANTS

Application status of surfactants

1.Surfactant overview

Surfactant can cause Significant changes in the interface state of the solution system, and it is a high-performance substance. Surfactant molecules have two different groups, hydrophilic and hydrophobic, so they can produce a directional arrangement at the interface of the solution, which makes the surfactant material hydrophilic and lipophilic.

From the analysis of the molecular structure of the surfactant, the hydrophilic group has a strong polarity and can be partially compatible with amino acid water, but the hydrophobic group itself is relatively weak, so it is easily compatible with some organic substances. . In addition, for the classification of surfactants, it can be divided into ionic surfactants, Non-Ionic Surface-Active Agents, amphoteric surfactants, compound surfactants, other surfactants and so on.

The application of surfactants in the industrial field is very deep, and will be applied to the textile and washing industries, but many areas of fine industry are also inseparable from the role of surfactants. The use of surfactants in the pharmaceutical industry can solubilize drugs, reduce the solubility of some difficult-to-dissolve substances, and effectively enhance the concentration of the solution. In addition, surfactants can play a role in sterilization and disinfection, mainly because they can interact with bacterial biological proteins and accelerate protein molecular denaturation and loss of activity. All in all, surfactants are widely used in industry.

Non-Ionic Surface-Active Agents

2.Application status

Anionic surfactant

Regarding the classification of surfactants, it can be classified according to the characteristics of molecular structure. Surfactants with different molecular structures have different properties, so there are strong differences in various applications. Sulfonate is a very wide range of Anionic Surfactant. Sulfonate molecules have two different isomers, namely sodium linear alkyl sulfonate and sodium α-alkenyl sulfonate. Sodium linear alkyl benzene sulfonate is a solid, the color is mainly white or light yellow, it can be powder or flakes.

This surfactant has strong stability and can be well dissolved in water. This kind of application is also very common. It can be found in detergent and laundry detergent, although it can be found in shampoo or Sodium linear alkyl benzene sulfonate is also used in shower gel, but it needs to be used in combination with other types of surfactants, and the amount will be greatly reduced.

For the linear alkyl benzene sulfonate surfactant, the stability is very good, and its own decontamination and oil removal ability is very strong, so it is widely used in the washing industry, and its pollution to the environment is very small , It can be quickly decomposed by microorganisms in nature, and the cost is low, but its disadvantage is that it is very irritating.

In addition to sulfonate, sulfate is also a very common anionic surfactant. Sulfate surfactants can be divided into fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether sodium sulfate and sodium lauryl sulfate. Fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether sodium sulfate has strong water solubility and is mainly used in shampoos and shower gels. Using this surfactant, any solution can be formulated into an aqueous solution in any proportion, with low irritation. Can effectively avoid the problem of chapped and dry skin. However, its decontamination and oil removal ability is very small, and its stability in acidic media is extremely low

Cationic surfactant

Cationic surfactants are also widely used and play an important role in the development of industry. There are many categories of cationic surfactants, including cationic guar gum, cationic silicone oil, cetyl dimethyl ammonium chloride and so on. Compared with anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants have a strong regulating effect.

Cationic surfactants have strong sterilization and disinfection effects, so cationic surfactants cannot be used directly in combination with anionic surfactants. Cationic surfactants are often used as disinfectants. It can be used as a regulator component, and its status in liquid detergents and shampoos cannot be replaced by other surfactants, so it is very important for liquid detergents and shampoos.