ABSTRACT
The interactions between proteins and surfactants at solid surfaces are of notable importance in our daily life. The first thing that comes to mind is probably the use of detergents in removal of protein-rich soil, both in industry and at home. Surfactants are used for cleaning dishes, clothes, process equipment, teeth, contact lenses, etc. Other important applications of surfactants where knowledge of interactions between surfactants and proteins is of importance are in bioanalytical methods and in bioseparation. Furthermore, the removal of proteins by surfactants has been used for investigations into the nature of protein adsorption itself [ 1-7]. Still our knowledge about what governs the interaction between adsorbed proteins and surfactants or the competitive adsorption of these to solid interfaces is far from complete. This chapter aims to describe what is known so far on a basic level about the interaction of proteins and surfactants at solid interfaces. It also gives some examples of practical applications where these interactions are of importance. In the latter section there is no attempt to completely cover all the different fields but rather to give a few examples of each subject. We do not give any details on the interaction between proteins and surfactants in solution [8] or the adsorption of surfactants to interfaces. Furthermore, work in related areas such as protein and surfactant adsorption at airwater interfaces are only referred to when directly relevant to the topic of solid interfaces [9-11].
