ABSTRACT
Surfactant is an abbreviation for surface active agent, which means active at a surface. ¢is means a surfactant is characterized by its tendency to adsorb contaminants at surfaces. Surprisingly, the preparation of a surfactant is potentially the oldest documentation of a de©ned chemical synthesis, as the oldest man-made surfactant that was used as a “consumer product” is soap. Documents exist from the early Sumerians, who inhabited the region between Euphrates and Tigris rivers, which clearly describe the production of soap in 2500 BC. In these documents, there are detailed instructions on which quantity the two starting materials, oil and wood ash, have to be mixed prior to heating. ¢ey used this soap for the washing of their woolen clothing. Ever since these former times there are various documents in the Egyptian, German, and Arab civilizations talking about the preparation and usage of soap as a detergent for body and clothing and even sometimes for medicinal purposes.
