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surfactant
Sign in to saveAlso known as surface active agent, Surface Active Agents, Surface active agent, surfactant, Surface-Active Agents, tenside, tensides, surfactants
thumb|Schematic diagram of a [[micelle of oil in aqueous suspension, such as might occur in an emulsion of oil in water. In this example, the surfactant molecules' oil-soluble tails project into the oil (blue), while the water-soluble ends remain in contact with the water phase (red).]]
A surfactant is a molecule with one end that dissolves in water and another end that dissolves in oil, allowing it to bridge these two normally separate substances. This property makes surfactants useful for mixing oil and water together in products like soaps, detergents, and emulsions.
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Research
216,917 papers- Pulmonary Surfactant: A Mighty Thin Film.ReviewChemical reviews · 2023Possmayer F, Zuo YY, Veldhuizen RAW et al.DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00146
- Neonatal surfactant therapy beyond respiratory distress syndrome.ReviewSeminars in fetal & neonatal medicine · 2023Dargaville PA, Herting E, Soll RFDOI: 10.1016/j.siny.2023.101501
- Timing of surfactant treatment in respiratory distress syndrome.ReviewSeminars in fetal & neonatal medicine · 2023van Kaam AH, Niemarkt HJ, Onland WDOI: 10.1016/j.siny.2023.101495
- Surfactant as a drug carrier.ReviewSeminars in fetal & neonatal medicine · 2023Sett A, Roehr CC, Manley BJDOI: 10.1016/j.siny.2023.101499
- Surfactant delivery strategies to prevent bronchopulmonary dysplasia.ReviewSeminars in perinatology · 2023Kribs A, Roberts KD, Trevisanuto D et al.DOI: 10.1016/j.semperi.2023.151813
- Poloxamer 188 as surfactant in biological formulations - An alternative for polysorbate 20/80?ReviewInternational journal of pharmaceutics · 2022Bollenbach L, Buske J, Mäder K et al.DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2022.121706
- Mechanosensitive channels TMEM63A and TMEM63B mediate lung inflation-induced surfactant secretion.The Journal of clinical investigation · 2024Chen GL, Li JY, Chen X et al.DOI: 10.1172/JCI174508
- [Surfactant therapy of respiratory distress syndrome].ReviewUgeskrift for laeger · 2021Verder H, Heiring C, Schousboe P
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~20 min read
Article
45 sectionsContents
- Classification
- Classification according to charge / polarity
- Anionic: sulfate, sulfonate, and phosphate, carboxylate derivatives
- Cationic head groups
- Zwitterionic surfactants
- Non-ionic
- Ethoxylates
- Fatty alcohol ethoxylates
- Alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs or APEOs)
- Fatty acid ethoxylates
- Special ethoxylated fatty esters and oils
- Ethoxylated amines and/or fatty acid amides
- Fatty acid esters of polyhydroxy compounds
- Fatty acid esters of glycerol
- Fatty acid esters of sorbitol
- Fatty acid esters of sucrose
- Alkyl polyglucosides
- Classification according to chemical structure
- Classification according to properties / application
- Composition and structure
- Structure of surfactant phases in water
- Dynamics of surfactants at interfaces
- Characterization of interfaces and surfactant layers
- Applications
- Food industry
- Personal care and homecare
- Pharmaceuticals and cosmetics
- Plant protection products
- Medicine
- Biochemistry
- Technology
- Antistatic agents
- Textile finishing
- Cooling lubricants
- Printer ink
- Paper recycling
- Oil and mining industry
- Fire fighting
- Surfactants in droplet-based microfluidics
- Human body and nature
- Safety and environmental risks
- Biodegradation
- See also
- References
- External links
thumb|Schematic diagram of a [[micelle of oil in aqueous suspension, such as might occur in an emulsion of oil in water. In this example, the surfactant molecules' oil-soluble tails project into the oil (blue), while the water-soluble ends remain in contact with the water phase (red).]]
A surfactant is a chemical compound that decreases the surface tension or interfacial tension between two liquids, a liquid and a gas, or a liquid and a solid. The word surfactant is a blend of "surface-active agent", coined in 1950. As they consist of a water-repellent and a water-attracting part, they are emulsifiers, enabling water and oil to mix. They can also form foam, and facilitate the detachment of dirt.