Abstract
Surfactants are characterized by their ability to reduce the surface tension of aqueous fluids; this enables them to act as detergents, wetting agents, emulsifiers. James (1965) has defined them as molecules with two different structural elements, one being a hydrophobic hydrocarbon (water-repellent) group, and the other a hydrophilic polar (water attracting) group. Depending on the charge of the hydrophilic structural element surface active agents are classified as anionic, cationic, amphoteric and non-ionic compounds.
Sources for toxicity data, if not otherwise indicated: Registry of toxic effects of chemical substances (1990). Department of Health and Human Services, Cincinnati, USA. Lexikon der Hilfsstoffe für Pharmazie, Kosmetik und angrenzende Gebiete (1989), Ed. H P. Fiedler, Editio Cantor, Aulendorf Germany. Product information and safety data sheets of microbicide suppliers. All indications are given in good faith and conscience. This also applies for the ’maximum working place concentrations’ (MWC), the ’acceptable daily intake’ (ADI) values and to the data with regard to ecotoxicity and biodegradability of microbicides which, as far as accessible, were also incorporated.
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© 1993 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
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Paulus, W. (1993). Surface Active Agents. In: Microbicides for the Protection of Materials. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-2118-7_18
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-2118-7_18
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
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