ABSTRACT
Introduction During the last few years, there has been considerable interest in the use of surfactants derived from renewable oleochemical feedstocks. Though anionic surfactants derived from coconut and palm kernel oils have gained significant importance, those derived from the common and more abundant oils and fats having a major fraction from a C16-C18 fatty chain have been exploited only to a limited extent. This is due primarily to their poor aqueous solubilities at ambient temperatures, low foaming characteristics, and poor tolerance for water hardness ions. However, the surfactants derived from oils and fats having a major fraction from C16-C18 fatty chains exhibit superior detergency and low skin-irritation potency and hence are preferred actives for detergent applications.
