Surfactant is a type of compounds. It can lower the surface tension of between two liquids, between a gas and a liquid, or between a liquid and a solid. Thus, its character makes it useful as detergents, wetting agents, emulsifiers, foaming agents, and dispersants.

Surfactants are generally organic amphiphilic molecules with hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups, usually amphiphilic organic compounds, containing hydrophobic groups (“tails”) and hydrophilic groups (“heads”). Therefore, they are soluble in organic solvents and water.

Classification of Surfactant
(1) Anionic surfactant
(2) Cationic surfactant
(3) Zwitterionic surfactant
(4) Nonionic surfactant