Surfactants or surface active agents are organic compounds which enhances the properties of water-based solutions. Manufacturing of surfactants is usually from petroleum derivatives but can also be produced from natural raw materials. Surfactants contain a hydrophilic group [such as an acid anion (-CO2 or -SO3 )] and a hydrophobic group [such as alkyl chain]. Functioning of surfactants works in a way which involves breaking down the interface between water & oils or/and dirt. Molecules of water form a cluster around the hydrophilic group whereas the molecules which are insoluble in water (such as oil or/and dirt) tend to form a cluster around hydrophobic group. Thus, they form a fundamental compound in the manufacturing of detergent. Properties such as cleaning efficiency, wetting, dispersing, foaming/defoaming, lubricity, emulsifying, and solvency of water-based solutions increases with the addition of surfactants.
Surfactants are also segmented on the basis of opposed polarity and/or different charges into four types:
Non-ionic Surfactants are neutral, i.e. they contain no charge, unlike others which have either negative or positive or even contain both charge. Non-ionic surfactants are sugar-based products and their demand is expected to go northwards due to its low toxic property. They are the second largest type of surfactants by volume after Anionic surfactants and constitute around 35% of surfactants production. This type of surfactant has the widest range of properties depending upon hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB). HLB is basically a numerical system used to describe the relationship between water-soluble and oil-soluble parts of non-ionic surfactant. The heads of non-ionic surfactants contains multiple alcohols which helps them act as fat solvents in many applications such as laundry detergents, dishwashing agents, and domestic cleaning agents. They are less sensitive to water hardness and foams lesser compared to anionic surfactants.
Non-ionic surfactants have a broad spectrum of uses in cosmetics as they are excellent for solubilizing fragrances and other natural oils in formulation, used in gentle cleansers such as baby shampoos (the most common of which is PEG-80 sorbitan laurate). They are also used to thicken systems and provide a good conditioning effect. Also, they reduce skin irritation, are good foam enhancers (when used with anionic surfactants) and used as primary surfactant in the production of emulsions. Due to these properties, non-ionic surfactants are majorly used in cosmetics and personal care applications which drive the growth of this market. Rising population, increasing per capita income, and increasing lifestyle in the Asia-Pacific have fostered the adoption of surfactants in this region. China, Japan and India are the major countries in the region witnessing considerable growth in the non-ionic surfactants market. North America and Europe are the second and third largest regions respectively showing moderate growth rates for non-ionic surfactants market.
Need help
How can we help you?
Reach us with your research requirements and we shall provide the optimum solution to suit your needs.