1. TRENDS IN SURFACTANT SCIENCE :
OPPORTUNITIES & CHALLENGES
SHRIRAM INSTITUTE FOR INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH,
19 UNIVERSITY ROAD,NEW DELHI-110007
PRESENTED BY :
DR. R. K. KHANDAL

2. Systems
Surfactant Science : Challenges & Opportunities
Description Remarks
Phases Gas / Liquid/Solid Resist any changes
Surfaces
Liquid Liquid : Emulsion
Solid Liquid : Dispersion
Liquid Gas : Fog
Gas Liquid : Foam
Solid Gas : Dust
Liquid Solid Gas : Complex
Surfaces in equilibrium
with Gas phase (Air)
Interfaces
Stabilisation/ Destabilisation
Surfactants play a key role
by modifying the surfaces
(interfaces)
Tension
Homogenity/ Micronisation
Surfactant can separate or
mix different surfaces
Affinity Surfactants help solublize
substrates into matrices
Gas/Liquid; Gas Solid
Multi phase and Multi facialProduct Surfactants are enablers as
well as stabilizers
 Surfactant science deals with surfaces rather than
with the bulk and that is the challenge !

3. Surfactant Science : Challenges & Opportunities
Kinetically stable
Thermodynamically
unstable
Surfactants can only
create barriers which
prevent destabilization
for a fixed time
Multi phase,
Multi - face
product
Challenge Opportunity
Thermodynamic Stability Surfactants bringing in
ultra low interfacial
tension effect
 The aim to have thermodynamic stability is so
challenging that opportunities are enormous

4. Natural multiphase multi-
facial systems
Artificial multiphase
multi-facial systems
 Crude Oil
 Dust
 Fog
 Foam
 Challenge : A simple surfactant to deal with
complex and diverse systems
 Opportunity : Enormous for the life support systems
 Emulsion
 Cream
 Dispersion
 Foam
Role of
Surfactants
 Dehomogenise
 Destabilise
 Separate the
discontinuous
phase from the
continuous phase
 Homogenise
 Stabilise
 Convert discontinuous
phase into the continuous
one by merging it into the
continuous matrix
Surfactant Science : Complex Systems

5. Support Systems
Surfactant Science: Life Support Systems
Requirements Challenges Opportunities
Agriculture  Soil
 Agrochemicals
More from less
More effect
less residues
 Modify soil
surfaces
 Maximum
agrochemicals in
small volume
 Homogenise non-
polar chemicals
with water
 Non-arable to
arable
 Safe crops
 More yield
Health  Target drug
delivery
 Penetration
into the body
systems
 Compatibili-
sation of drug
formulations to
body systems
 Reduction of
interfacial tension
 Solubilisation of
nonpolar drugs in
water
 Efficacy of drug
formulations
 Safe health
care products
 Benefits to
common
people
Transport  High speed
transport
 Aerodynamics
 Fuel efficient
 Non - Toxic
emissions
 Lubricating
systems
 Brake fluids
 Self cleaning
engines
 Efficient injection
systems
 Energy saving
 Improved life
style

6. Support Systems
Surfactant Science: Life Support Systems
Requirements Challenges Opportunities
Shelter  Weather-proof
housing
 Light weight
construction
 Improved mix
designs
 Weather proof
coatings
 Modified concrete
surfaces
 Self curing with
little water
 Societal
growth
 Economic
growth
Materials  Bio-compatible
 Biodegradable
 Long life
 Recyclable
 Modify surfaces
 Improved
processibility
 Enhanced
weather-proofness
 Enormous
textiles,
Fibers,
polymers,
metals alloy,
composites
 Surfactants play a pivotal role in meeting the requirements
while converting challenges into opportunities

7. New Materials
Modifications
Improved Designs
Product
Device
Surfactants drive
the cycle forward
always providing
modifications of
surfaces
 Each time a new device results in a product,
the need for modifications leading to the
requirement of new materials arises.
 Surfactants provide the modifications
necessary for improving performance of
materials
Surfactant Science : Development Cycle

8. Surfactants market: Region-wise split
 Challenge: Affordable surfactants
 Opportunity: A huge market potential
35%
29%
23%
13%
Rest
US
Europe
Asia Pacific
70% of surfactants
consumed by
30% of population

9.  Most of is going in to cleaning
 Challenge lies in exploiting it for industrial problems which
present as opportunity for market growth
Global surfactant market by end-user
application
Household
Detergents
40%
Textile Auxiliaries
10%
Personal Care
9%
Industrial and
Institutional
Cleaning
6%
Oilfield
5%
Others
30%
GLOBAL SURFACTANTS MARKET:
END-USER-WISE

10. Surfactant million tons %age
Soap 9.0 49.5
Anionics 4.5 24.7
Linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) 2.9 64.4
Branched alkylbenzene sulfonate 0.2 04.4
Fatty alkyl ether sulfate (FAES) 0.8 17.8
Fatty alkyl sulfate (FAS) 0.6 13.3
Nonionics 1.7 09.3
Alcohol ethoxylates (AE) 1.1 64.7
Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPE) 0.6 35.3
Quats 0.5 02.7
Amphoterics 0.1 00.6
Others 2.4 13.2
Total 18.2 100
World surfactants consumption 2003: Category-wise
 Challenge: Alternate raw materials
 Opportunity: Renewable resouces

11. Surfactant Market: Consumption and Potential
Country Per Capita Consumption
US 4.0
Europe 3.5
Japan 3.8
China 0.7
Others < 0.3.5
 Challenge: Convert potential into actual
 Opportunity: Huge Potential

12. Surfactant Science: Challenges and Opportunities
New material
Raw Material Alternate to New Surface Renewable
Petro Hydrophobes Resources
Process Green New Scales Bio-Route
Technology Cost -Effective
Environment Biodegradability Stringent Surfactants
Concerns Toxicity norms derived from
renewable
resources
Applications Micro-scale Enormous
to sub-micro
scale
 Potential is high but remains hidden !
 A relook in the approach is necessary !

13. Surfactant Science: Path Forward Develop
 Raw materials from renewable
resources
 Process using enzymatic and other
bio-routes
 Specialty Synergistic products to
produce nano materials
 Surfactants have always been a
preferred subject of research and it
will continue to remain so in future
with perhaps complete shift in
approach and emphasis

14. THANK YOU