ABSTRACT
Surfactants are chemical materials used by humans for centuries; a very remote use is reported as a kind of soap already prepared with ash and vegetal oils by Sumerian people (ca. 10,000 BC). Surfactants are used today in many practical applications in industry, home, and institutions. Cosmetics is an important application area among others (detergents, foods, fabric softeners, biocides, textiles industries, paints, inks, adhesives, dyes, herbicides, insecticides, fire extinguishers, etc.).
