Surfactant

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-027401",
  "term": "Surfactant",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "1. A detergent compound that promotes lathering.\n\n2. (sir-FAC-tent) Abbreviation for surface-active agent. The active agent in detergents that possesses a high cleaning ability.\n\n3. Used during the hydraulic fracturing process to decrease liquid surface tension and improve fluid passage through the pipes.\n\n4. Surface active agent used in detergents to cause lathering.\n\n5. Surface active agent that cleans.\n\n6. Abbreviation for surface-active agent. The active agent in detergents that possesses a high cleaning ability.\n\n7. Methylene blue active substances amendable to measurement by the method described in “Methods for Chemical Analysis of Water and Wastes,” 1971, Environmental Protection Agency, Analytical Quality Control Laboratory, page 131.\n\n8. Organic substance and/or preparation which has surface-active properties and which consists of one or more hydrophilic and one or more hydrophobic groups of such a nature and size that it is capable of reducing the surface tension of water, and of forming spreading or adsorption monolayers at the water-air interface, and of forming emulsions and/or microemulsions and/or micelles, and of adsorption at water-solid interfaces. Surfactants may also be used for purposes other than detergents such as emulsifiers, foaming agents, wetting agents, and stabilizers for dispersions.",
  "subject": "Chemical substances",
  "references": [
    "Pesticides Glossary; Terms of Environment",
    "Drinking Water Technical & Legal Terms",
    "Glossary: Study of the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking Water Resources; EPA Study of the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking Water Resources: Progress Report at http://www.epa.gov/hfstudy/pdfs/hf-report20121214.pdf",
    "I-BEAM Glossary of Terms",
    "Drinking Water Technical & Legal",
    "40 CFR 417.91 (CFR 2017)",
    "EPA's Safer Choice Standard (February 2015) https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2013-12/documents/standard-for-safer-products.pdf"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/surfactant/"
}