Varieties, criteria for choosing surfactants in detergents

Almost all detergents used in everyday life to remove dirt from surfaces of any type, as well as for washing clothes, contain surfactants - surfactants.

What is it, what varieties are there, how effective are they in processing objects and how do they affect a person - the answers are in this article.

What it is?

Surfactants are chemicals contained in almost all household chemicals used for washing dishes, washing clothes and treating the surfaces of household items. Without their addition to detergents, the latter lose the ability to effectively clean, launder and launder.

Water molecules, even very hot ones, do not bind to fat molecules, so they are not washed off completely. It is for this purpose that surfactants are used to ensure the connection of water molecules with fat particles.

Surfactant molecules are a bipolar sphere. One of them – lipophilic – comes into contact with fats. The second one is hydrophilic and attaches to a water molecule. As a result of this double-sided attachment of water and grease (or other types of contaminants), surfaces are effectively cleaned.

Kinds

Inorganic surfactants are used as one of the components of most detergents.Unlike organic surfactants, which are generally considered absolutely safe, inorganic surfactants affect the human body to varying degrees. This directly depends on their type:

1. Anionic. A-Pav is the most effective and highly soluble substance. They foam perfectly and cope well with any type of dirt.

   Products with anionic components are low cost. A significant disadvantage is that they are allergenic. They are characterized by a high level of aggressiveness towards the human body.

2. Cationic. Preparations with cationic substances are significantly inferior in effectiveness to anionic drugs. They have low cleaning power. However, there is a significant plus - a bactericidal effect.
3. Nonionic. Detergents with this type of surfactant have a gentle effect on the objects being treated and the skin of the hands. Their exceptionally high level of biodegradability, equal to 100%, characterizes them positively. This is the safest type of substance. Disadvantage: they do not foam well, so they are often used in tandem with anionic substances.

   Plus - they are perfectly washed off from the surface being treated. These components are included in the composition of children's detergents.

4. Ampholytic. This type of surfactant, depending on the acidity or alkalinity of the basic composition of the detergent, exhibits properties characteristic of cationic or anionic surfactants.
5. Bio-surfactant. These particles are characterized by absolute environmental safety. These substances are characterized by their ability to be completely biodegradable, so household chemicals containing them are harmless.

Why are they dangerous?

Surfactants are a product obtained from the processing of petrochemical raw materials. These particles are quite aggressive. A high level of their content in the environment causes a decrease in surface tension.

This fact poses a particular danger to the ocean., as this negatively affects the retention of oxygen and carbon dioxide in water. This, in turn, has a detrimental effect on its flora and fauna.

The use of surfactants in industrial production and everyday economic activities leads to the deposition of their particles on the soil. As a result, these particles retain free ions of heavy metals, which significantly increases the likelihood of hazardous compounds entering the human body.

Effect on the human body

Products containing surfactants that cope well with stains of any origin. However, many of them have a negative effect on the body:

1. When they come into contact with the skin, they destroy the lipid layer that serves as protection against bacteria.

   Research has found that it will take up to 4 hours after contact with surfactant particles to restore the protective layer of the skin.

   During this period, the protective fat layer of the epidermis is able to recover by 60%. But not all household chemicals provide such a percentage.

   Therefore, due to degreasing and dehydration, the skin of the hands loses its elasticity, becomes dry and ages quickly.

2. Surfactants with a low level of biodegradability can accumulate in organs and systems. Their target most often is the respiratory tract.Asthma and allergies are the most common consequences of using aggressive cleaning products with high levels of surfactants.
3. In addition, the liver, heart and brain are negatively affected.
4. A negative effect of surfactants on the male reproductive system has been revealed. It is equivalent to exposure to radioactive radiation.

It is possible to minimize the risks of the aggressive action of surfactants by choosing the right detergents. The best of them are those containing surfactants with a high level of biodegradability.

How to choose safe drugs?

The use of effective household chemicals has become a part of everyday life. This becomes a reason for a more careful selection of the drugs used. taking into account their safety for the body:

1. Effective and cheap products with anionic surfactants are the most dangerous to health. Their use should be kept to a minimum.
2. Cationic surfactants are less aggressive. Their effectiveness is lower, but their safety is higher.
3. The safest nonionic surfactants. But when choosing products that contain them, you should pay attention to the composition, whether it contains anionic substances.
4. Increased foaming of the product indicates a high level of surfactants in the composition. Normally, their content should not exceed 5%.

Adviсe

A smart approach to using detergents involves following simple tips. Here are the most important of them:

• carefully study the composition of household chemicals before purchasing and using them;
• select several options for products with different types of surfactants and use them strictly according to the instructions;
• if there is no need to clean complex contaminants, do not use products with a high content of A-surfactants;
• get rid of dishes with chips and cracks - small particles of detergent remain in them;
• Rinse dishes under running water to completely wash away aggressive substances.

Following these recommendations is a guarantee of the safety and effectiveness of using detergents.

Video on the topic of the article

This video will tell you about surfactants in detergents:

Conclusion

Surfactants in detergents ensure the effectiveness of the preparations. However, only a reasonable approach to the use of household chemicals guarantees safety for the human body. When purchasing a detergent, you should take into account the complexity of the work ahead. This will help effectively eliminate contamination and minimize the negative effects of surfactants.