Synthetic and lignin-based surfactants: Challenges and opportunities

Surface active agents (surfactants) are chemicals that can accumulate at the surface of a liquid, or interface between two phases with the role of changing the surface tension of the interface. Depending on their structures, they have many applications in industries, such as the petroleum, mining, pulping and textiles, wherein they are utilized as detergents, wetting agents, emulsifiers, foaming agents and dispersants. Most of commonly used...