Chemistry (including Biochemistry)/What is a sufactant

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Expert: - 7/8/2004


Question
I am interested in a new soap product and they talk about it being good for the body because is doesn't contain any sufactants -- could you give a brief description of a sufactant and why this it is better for body soap not to contain it?

Answer

Here is a definition of a surfactant.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surfactant

The claims of the new product I would have to read.  The main difference is that surfactants are made from pretroleum feedstocks while soaps are were made from animal fat and oils.  The two terms are many times used interchangably.  The new product will probably claim it is more "natural", but then again you have to kill animals for the fat.  I don't think animal rights people would like that.

Bottom line, I would have to read the claims.

Chemistry (including Biochemistry)

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Chemistry (non-biochemistry), environmental science, occupational health and safety, environmental regulation and management, environmental engineering, and wastewater engineering. I'm the Director of Environmental, Health, and Safety and the Director of Research at the Institute of Textile Technology.

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Chemistry (non-biochemistry), environmental science, occupational health and safety, environmental regulation and management, environmental engineering, and wastewater engineering. I'm the Director of Environmental, Health, and Safety and the Director of Research at the Institute of Textile Technology.

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PhD, MS, BS in Chemistry

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