Surfactants

Surfactants are essential additives in cleaning products, reducing surface tension and enhancing wetting.

With both hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties, surfactants break down and emulsify greasy substances, aiding in the removal of dirt and stains. Their versatile nature stabilizes dispersed particles, preventing reattachment to surfaces and contributing to the overall efficacy of cleaning solutions. In laundry detergents and household cleaners, surfactants play a key role in achieving thorough and efficient cleaning across various surfaces.

726™A quaternary ammonium based surfactant for emulsification of mineral seal oil and other hydrocarbons for use in transportation rinse aids
  • Drying agents for car and truck wash
  • Rinse aids for car and truck wash
AFA™Non-silicone glass additive with excellent anti-fog properties
  • Sports goggle/face mask treatment
  • Bathroom mirrors
  • Eye glasses cleaners
AS™Amphoteric coupling agent / hydrotrope for solubilizing nonionic surfactants into highly alkaline / caustic systems
  • Acid cleaners
  • Heavy duty degreasers
  • Metalworking cleaners
  • Transportation presoaks
BSH™An excellent hypochlorite stable hydrotrope
  • Bathroom and bowl cleaners
  • Hard surface cleaners (acid or alkaline emulsions)
  • Industrial cleaners
  • Low foam parts washing (companion for LFQ™)
BVM™Excellent low cost choice for modifying viscosity in bleach formulations
  • Bathroom and bowl applications
  • Hard surface cleaners (acid or alkaline emulsions)
  • Industrial cleaners
  • Foam booster in transportation cleaning
CHD4™Naturally derived, DEA-free liquid surfactant system for building viscosity
  • Automotive Bucket Wash
  • Hand Soap (lotions, gels, foaming) and Body Washes
  • High Foam Automatic Car Wash Detergents
  • Self-Serve Foaming Brush
  • Tri Colour Foamers for Automatic Car Washes
CK™An easy to use emulsifier for producing low cost waterless hand cleaners with excellent stability and uniform consistency
  • Waterless hand cleaners
DANA green, non-ionic surfactant for use in foaming and hydrotroping
  • Glass cleaning
  • Laundry (enzyme stabilization)
  • Hydrotroping, even in green certified formulae
  • Oil field down hole foaming
  • Wheel cleaning
EGMConcentrated surfactant for VOC exempt, streak-free glass cleaning
  • Multi-surface cleaners
  • Super concentrates
  • VOC exempt glass cleaners
  • Summer windshield wash
  • TV and electronics screen cleaners
EQIA highly economical surfactant with superior degreasing performance.
  • BBQ and Grill Cleaners
  • Marine Cleaners
  • Peroxide Cleaners
  • Transportation Presoaks – Car and Truck
  • Wheel Cleaners
ES1Nonionic surfactant system for extremely high electrolyte/high alkaline systems
  • Asphalt release agent
  • Frictionless/touchless presoaks
  • Heavy equipment cleaners
  • Oven cleaners
  • Printing press cleaners
GTQ™A highly economical, multidimensional surfactant with superior performance
  • Consumer based cleaners (APC’s, Degreasers, etc.) with 'green claims'
  • Excellent surfactant option for SKU rationalization
  • Laundry stain removers and pre-spotting applications
  • Oil field degreasing and oil cleaning applications
  • All types of industrial degreasing and soot removal
HFCSuperior hydrotrope where high foam is needed
  • Hard surface cleaners (acid or alkaline emulsions)
  • Industrial cleaners (emulsions or as-is)
  • Transportation cleaning
ILBTSurfactant blend used to build thixotropic viscosity in hypochlorite based formulations
  • Cooktop cleaner
  • Restaurant vent hood cleaner
  • Bowl/urinal cleaners
  • Deck cleaners
  • Drain openers
IPB4Cost effective, concentrated surfactant for producing VOC free daily shower cleaner
  • Glass Cleaners
  • Outdoor Window Cleaners
  • Bathroom / Kitchen Sinks & Faucets (Preventative Maintenance)
  • Bathtub (Preventative Maintenance)
  • Daily Shower cleaner
IQLFA breakthrough in high detergency, low foam cleaning
  • Parts Washers
  • Floor cleaning
  • High pressure cleaning and degreasing
  • Industrial cleaners
  • Metal Working cleaners
JK50Outstanding coupling/hydrotroping surfactant for use in high alkaline/caustic systems
  • Floor Scrubbers
  • Food and Dairy Cleaners
  • Frictionless/Touchless Presoaks
  • Parts Washers
  • Truck Wash
KDC3A high foaming hydrotrope that results in a very mild feel to skin
  • Hand dish detergents
  • Hand soaps
  • Transportation presoaks (alkaline and acidic)
LCFHighly economical surfactant system for building foam and lubricity
  • Automatic car wash (soft touch)
  • Self-serve car wash (foaming brush)
  • Tri-poly foamers
  • Bucket wash (for hand use)
  • Dish wash
LFQA truly low foam surfactant with powerful detergency
  • Cabinet/Parts Washers
  • Metalworking
  • Peroxide Cleaners
  • Carpet Cleaners
  • CIP Cleaners
ME80A one component emulsifier for producing pH neutral solvent microemulsions
  • Engine Degreasers
  • Printing, Pulp and Paper cleaners
  • Bug / Tar / Wax Removers
  • Graffiti Removers
  • Solvent Degreasers
NHD2Naturally derived surfactant for producing hand dish and hand soap formulations
  • Hand dish
  • Hand soap (lotions, gels, foaming) and body washes
  • High foam automatic car wash detergents
  • Automotive bucket wash
  • Foaming, lotion and gel hand soaps
NLS90Highly economical and environmentally friendly surfactant, excellent for laundry and floor formulations
  • Hand dish
  • Floor cleaners
  • Industrial cleaners
  • Laundry applications
NQ3Naturally derived, exceptionally versatile surfactant system
  • Canvas & vinyl cleaners
  • Laundry detergents
  • Non-acid wheel cleaners
  • Paper equipment cleaners
  • Carpet spotters
NSW4A foaming bucket wash concentrate with superior water beading properties that leaves a durable, wax-like finish
  • Coin - Op Car Wash
  • Foaming Spray Wax for Auto Car Wash
  • Wash and Wax - hand/bucket
OGAMPA high foaming hydrotroping surfactant with corrosion inhibition properties in certain acidic formulae
  • Automotive drying agents
  • Aluminum brighteners
  • Metal cleaning and descaling
  • Wheel cleaning
PF2Surfactant system developed for triple/poly foamers and clear coat protectorants
  • Clear coat protectorants
  • Triple / poly foamers
PPSA nonionic surfactant developed for use in transportation pre-soak detergents, wheel cleaners and hard surface cleaners
  • Alkaline wheel cleaners
  • Hard surface cleaners/degreasers
  • One and two step touchless transportation wash
Q3™The most versatile surfactant chemistry available
  • Laundry – spotters/boosters
  • Marine Cleaner
  • Oil Field Equipment and Parts Degreasing
  • Pulp, Paper, and Printing cleaners
  • Hydrogen Peroxide Based Cleaners
QHDA powerful surfactant system for heavy duty degreasing
  • Engine and machine cleaners
  • Laundry pre-treaters
  • Parts washing
  • Wheel cleaning
  • BBQ and grill cleaning
QNGA superior degreasing surfactant derived from natural feedstocks
  • Laundry – spotters/boosters
  • Marine Cleaners
  • Oil Field Equipment and Parts Degreasing
  • Pulp, Paper, and Printing cleaners
  • Hydrogen Peroxide Based Cleaners
QX9Unique surfactant blend used In aqueous based cleaning
  • Aircraft cleaners
  • Neutral floor cleaners
  • Oil rig degreasing
  • Oven cleaners
  • Printing press cleaners
R49Use as a drop-in replacement for 91-6/ 91-8 alcohol ethoxylate or similar chemistries
  • Hard surface cleaners
  • Neutral floor cleaning
  • Peroxide cleaners
  • Transportation wash
SSSuperior surfactant system for use in acidic based formulae for soap scum removal
  • Floor cleaners
  • Tub and tile cleaners
  • All purpose cleaners
  • Bowl cleaners
  • Grout cleaners

More Information

Surfactants, short for surface-active agents, play a pivotal role as chemical additives in product cleaning and descaling processes. These compounds are essential for their unique ability to modify the surface properties of liquids, enabling them to disperse, emulsify, and break down various types of contaminants. The importance of surfactants in cleaning solutions lies in their versatile and effective nature, contributing significantly to the success of industrial and commercial cleaning and descaling efforts.

Surfactants are particularly adept at breaking down the interface between water and oils or other organic substances. This property makes them highly effective in removing greases, oils, and other hydrophobic contaminants from surfaces. In cleaning applications, surfactants act as emulsifying agents, allowing oil and water to mix and form stable emulsions. This emulsification process enhances the solubility of greasy substances, facilitating their removal from surfaces and ensuring a more thorough cleaning.

Surfactants improve the wetting ability of cleaning solutions, enabling them to spread more easily across surfaces. This increased wetting action enhances the contact between the cleaning solution and the contaminants, promoting better penetration and coverage. This is crucial in descaling applications, where mineral deposits may adhere tightly to surfaces. Surfactants help break the water's surface tension, allowing the cleaning solution to reach and interact with the deposited substances effectively.

One of the key functions of surfactants is to reduce the surface tension of liquids. This property facilitates the spreading of the cleaning solution over the target surface, ensuring that it reaches all areas for a more uniform cleaning process. In descaling applications, where mineral deposits often form unevenly, reducing surface tension becomes crucial for achieving comprehensive and consistent scale removal.

Surfactants contribute significantly to the overall effectiveness of cleaning solutions. Their ability to promote emulsification, wetting, and penetration ensures that the cleaning agents can effectively target and eliminate a wide range of contaminants. In descaling efforts, surfactants aid in breaking down mineral deposits and preventing their re-agglomeration, facilitating their suspension in the cleaning solution for easy removal.

Finding the correct combination of surfactants and other cleaning agents is crucial for achieving peak productivity in industrial and commercial cleaning applications. The diverse nature of contaminants and scaling issues demands a customized approach. The synergistic interaction of surfactants with other chemicals, such as alkalinity, chelants, and dispersants, ensures a comprehensive and effective cleaning process. This tailored approach not only maximizes the cleaning efficiency but also minimizes the need for aggressive mechanical methods, reducing the risk of damage to sensitive equipment components.

Surfactants are indispensable chemical additives in the realm of product cleaning and descaling. Their unique properties contribute to the overall efficacy of cleaning solutions by enhancing emulsification, wetting, and penetration. The correct combination of surfactants and other chemicals is essential for achieving peak productivity, ensuring thorough cleaning, and prolonging the lifespan of industrial and commercial equipment.