What is a Surfactant?

Surfactants are a class of compounds with certain functional properties. It usually does not meet consumers directly as a final product or commodity, but is added for application as an important component of the final product or a certain commodity. With different formulations, surfactants can be derived into various products, such as detergents, wetting agents, penetrants, emulsifiers, demulsifiers, defoamers, dispersants, etc. Surfactants is the main component of the formulations. However, additives such as auxiliary agents and accelerants can also be added to improve the functions of the surfactants. A good surfactant has the following features:

1) it is compatible with other ingredients in the formulation.

2) Its functions shall not be affected by other ingredients.

3) It shall not reduce the activities and functions of active ingredients and inert ingredients in the formulation. Non-ionic surfactants, sorbitan esters and polysorbates that are widely used in the food, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, agricultural, textile and oil industry meet all the above characteristics of good surfactants.