surfactant

(noun)

a surface active agent, or wetting agent, capable of reducing the surface tension of a liquid; typically organic compounds having a hydrophilic "head" and a hydrophobic "tail"

Related Terms

Examples of surfactant in the following topics:

  • Factors that Affect Germicidal Activity of Chemicals

    • They are commonly referred to as "surgical alcohol. " They are used to disinfect the skin before injections are given, often along with iodine (tincture of iodine) or some cationic surfactants (benzalkonium chloride 0.05–0.5%, chlorhexidine 0.2–4.0%, or octenidine dihydrochloride 0.1–2.0%).
    • The antimicrobial activity of Quats is inactivated by anionic surfactants, such as soaps.
    • It is a cationic surfactant, similar to Quats.
    • Octenidine dihydrochloride: A cationic surfactant and bis-(dihydropyridinyl)-decane derivative, used in concentrations of 0.1–2.0%.

  • Aerobic Hydrocarbon Oxidation

    • Interest in microbial surfactants has been steadily increasing in recent years due to their diversity, environmentally friendly nature, possibility of large-scale production, selectivity, performance under extreme conditions, and potential applications in environmental protection.

  • General Staining Methods

    • Permeabilization: This involves treatment of the cells with (usually) a mild surfactant.