Surface active agents (surfactants: A molecule that contains a polar portion and a

non polar portion is called surface active agent. Molecules and ions that are
adsorbed at interfaces are termed surface-active agents or surfactants. An
alternative term is amphiphile, which suggests that the molecule or ion has a certain
affinity for both polar and nonpolar solvents. Depending on the number and nature of
the polar and nonpolar groups present, the amphiphile may be predominantly
hydrophilic (water-loving), lipophilic (oil-loving), or reasonably well balanced between
these two extremes. For example, straight-chain alcohols, amines, and acids are
amphiphiles that change from being predominantly hydrophilic to lipophilic as the
number of carbon atoms in the alkyl chain is increased. Thus, ethyl alcohol is
miscible with water in all proportions. In comparison, the aqueous solubility of amyl
alcohol, C5H11OH, is much. reduced, whereas cetyl alcohol, C16H33OH, may be said
to be strongly lipophilic and insoluble in water.
Properties of surface active agent:
 Wetting of Solids
 Solubilization
 Emulsification
 Dispersion of solid in solution
 Micellization
 Detergency 

SURFACTANT CLASSIFICATION : Depending on their charge characteristics the

surface-active molecules may be
 Anionic: SLS
 Cationic: QAC
 Zwitterionic (ampholytic): N-dodecyl-N,N- dimethylbetaine
 Nonionic: Sorbitan esters, Polysorbates, Poloxamer

Figure
:Classification of surfactants
Application of Surfactants

 Detergents
 Fabric softener
 Emulsifiers and Emulsions
 Paints
 Adhesives
 Inks
 Anti-fogging
 Dispersants
 Wetting
 Ski wax, snowboard wax
 Defoamers
 Agrochemical formulations :Herbicides some , Insecticides
 Foaming agents

Emulgent

An emulgent is a compound that concentrates at the interface of two immiscible

phases, usually an oil and water. It lowers the interfacial free energy, reduces the
interfacial tension between the phases, and forms a film or barrier around the
droplets of the immiscible, discontinuous phase as they are formed, preventing the
coalescence of the droplets.

PROPERTIES OF EMULSIFYING AGENTS:

Molecular structure: Although emulsifying agents must contain both hydrophilic and
lipophilic parts, neither portion may be too strongly dominant (2,5). If the hydrophilic
part of the molecule is completely dominant, the substance does not concentrate at
the water–oil interface; it remains dissolved in the water phase. By the same token, if
the lipophilic portion is too strong, the substance remains dissolved in the oil.A good
emulsifier should have a reasonable balance between its hydrophilic and lipophilic
groups.

 The emulsifier must produce a stable film at the interface.

 The emulsifying agent should be stable to chemical degradation
  The emulsifying agent should be reasonably inert and should not interact
chemically with any of the other ingredients in the formulation

 The substance should be nontoxic and nonirritating to skin or mucous

membranes.

 Depending on its use, it should be relatively odorless, tasteless, and colorless.

 It should have a reasonable cost

Classification of Emulsifying Agents:

Pharmaceutical Applications of emulgent: -

Preparation of Oral emulsions: o/w (liquid) - External emulsions: liniments, lotions

(liquid) Creams (semi-solid) - Parenteral emulsions: o/w (parenteral nutrition) o/w or
w/o intramuscular.
Detergents

Detergents are the sodium salts of long chain of benzene sulphonic acid. It is divided
into natural detergent and synthetic detergent. • Natural detergent is made from
animal or vegetable oil while synthetic detergent is made from petroleum products. •
Detergents are usually sodium alkyl sulphate and sodium alkyl benzene
sulphonates.

EXAMPLES OF DETERGENTS: Two well known detergents of the sulphonates

group or sulphate group

PRINCIPLE GROUP OF SYNTHETIC DETERGENTS: Hydrophilic part: Hydrophilic

is sodium salt. Which is soluble in water. Ex : -SO3-, -OSO3-, -OH , NR4 . This part
is ionic and it attracted by polar water molecules. • Hydrophobic part : Hydrocarbon
part of detergent is called hydrophobic part. It is non-polar and insoluble in water but
soluble in oil.

Anionic detergents

Typical anionic detergents are alkylbenzene sulfonates. The alkylbenzene portion of

these anions is lipophilic and the sulfonate is hydrophilic.

Cationic detergents

Cationic detergents are similar to anionic ones, but quaternary ammonium replaces

the hydrophilic anionic sulfonate group.

Non-ionic detergents

Non-ionic detergents are characterized by their uncharged, hydrophilic headgroups.

Typical non-ionic detergents are based on polyoxyethylene or a glycoside.

Amphoteric detergents
Amphoteric or zwitterionic detergents have zwitterions within a particular pH range, and possess
a net zero charge arising from the presence of equal numbers of +1 and −1 charged chemical
groups.
Use of Detergents: Acid Detergents are commonly used for the removal of
inorganic residues and salts. Additionally, they are widely used for rouge removal
and passivation of stainless steel equipment found in pharmaceutical process
equipment trains.
 Antifoaming Agents

A defoamer or an anti-foaming agent is a chemical additive that reduces and hinders

the formation of foam in industrial process liquids. The terms anti-foam agent and
defoamer are often used interchangeably. In industrial processes, foams pose
serious problems. They cause defects on surface coatings. They prevent the efficient
filling of containers. A variety of chemical formulas are available to prevent formation
of foams.

Properties: Generally a defoamer is insoluble in the foaming medium and has

surface active properties. An essential feature of a defoamer product is a low
viscosity and a facility to spread rapidly on foamy surfaces. It has affinity to the air-
liquid surface where it destabilizes the foam lamellas. This causes rupture of the air
bubbles and breakdown of surface foam. Entrained air bubbles are agglomerated,
and the larger bubbles rise to the surface of the bulk liquid more quickly.

Oil based defoamers: Oil based defoamers have an oil carrier. The oil might be
mineral oil, vegetable oil, white oil or any other oil that is insoluble in the foaming
medium, except silicone oil. An oil based defoamer also contains a wax and/or
hydrophobic silica to boost the performance. Typical waxes are ethylene bis
stearamide (EBS), paraffin waxes, ester waxes and fatty alcohol waxes. These
products might also have surfactants to improve emulsification and spreading in the
foaming medium. These are heavy duty defoamers and are normally best at
knocking down surface foam.

Powder defoamers: Powder defoamers are in principle oil based defoamers on a

particulate carrier like silica. These are added to powdered products like cement,
plaster and detergents.

Water based defoamers: Water based defoamers are different types of oils and
waxes dispersed in a water base. The oils are often white oils or vegetable oils and
the waxes are long chain fatty alcohol, fatty acid soaps or esters. These are normally
best as deaerators, which means they are best at releasing entrained air.

Applications :
Detergents :Anti-foams are added in certain types of detergents to reduce foaming
that might decrease the action of the detergent. For example dishwasher detergents
have to be low foaming for the dishwasher to work properly.
Food: When used as an ingredient in food, antifoaming agents are intended to curb
effusion or effervescence in preparation or serving. The agents are included in a
variety of foods such as chicken nuggets in the form of poly dimethyl siloxane (a type
of silicone). Silicone oil is also added to cooking oil to prevent foaming in deep -
frying. Industrial use: Defoamers are used in many industrial processes and
products: wood pulp, paper, paint, industrial wastewater treatment, food processing,
oil drilling, machine tool industry, oils cutting tools, hydraulics, etc.
Pharmaceuticals: Antifoaming agents are also sold commercially to relieve bloating.
A familiar example is the drug Simethicone , which is the active ingredient in drugs
such as Maalox, Mylanta, and Gas-X.