Review on Development and Application of Eco-Benign Surfactants

Abstract

The development of eco-benign surfactants is the foundation of ingredients utilized in the pharmaceutical, laundry, household, and personal-care cleaning products. The types of surfactants, such as anionic, cationic, nonionic, zwitterionic, properties, toxicity, and thermodynamic feasibilities, are reviewed. The properties, such as critical micelle concentration (CMC), Kraft temperature, critical packing parameter (CPP), and foaming form the basis of solubility of these surfactants in reaction mixtures. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) is the fundamental concentration at which micelle formation is observed or noticed. It helps in the thermodynamic evaluation of surfactant activities in reaction mixtures. However, the Kraft temperature, which is also referred to as the melting point of micelles, is the foundation of the solubility of surfactants. The Kraft temperature is the point of intersection between the critical micelle concentration and solubility curves. The application of eco-benign surfactants is a developing trend in pharmaceutical, laundry, households, personal care, and remediation processes.