Type and application of some common surfactants

Reyhaneh Azarmi and Ali Ashjar

Abstract

Surfactants are characterized by the possession of both hydrophilic (polar) and hydrophobic (non-polar) groups on the same molecule. The hydrophobic portion has very little attraction for water and the hydrophilic portion has a strong attraction for water. As surfactant concentration increases in water, surfactant molecules form aggregates (micelles) and the hydrophobic inner portion of a micelle creates a non-polar environment, thus, there are the following surfactants: non-ionic, anionic, cationic, amphoteric and reactive. Surfactants are widely used in the detergent industry, lubrication, softening finishes, sewage sludge, herbicide dispersions, situ flushing to a diesel contaminated site and petroleum Industry. Most of the applications surfactants are softening products present analogous characteristics to a detergent a long aliphatic chain and a hydrophilic part. Its classification is usually based on characteristics from the hydrophilic part. This review paper focuses on the some types of surfactants and their applications.