The phrase 'surface-active agent' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
The phrase typically refers to a substance that alters the surface tension between two liquids or between a liquid and a solid. For example, "The detergent contained a surface-active agent that allowed it to break through grease and dirt."
The first detergent (or surface-active agent) was soap.
Bacillus subtilis synthesizes surfactin, a powerful surface-active agent.
The presence of surface-active agent may increase the enzymatic reactivity in POME hydrolysis.
In addition, a surface-active agent, SDBS, was added in the electrospun solution to generate bubbles at the free surface of the solution in the MFSE process.
Mg-doped ZnS hierarchical spheres have been synthesized via hydrothermal method using mixed solvents of ethylenediamine and DI water without any surface-active agent.
The complex 3D ZnS architectures have been synthesized through the template-free solvothermal method in mixed solvents of ethylenediamine, ethanolamine and distilled water without any surface-active agent.
In the case of ionic surface-active agents (explained below), the layer formed is ionic (electrically polar) in nature.
Four groups of surface-active agents are distinguished: Anionic detergents (including soap and the largest portion of modern synthetic detergents), which produce electrically negative colloidal ions in solution.
Detergents (and other surface-active agents) increase the spreading and wetting ability of water by reducing its surface tension that is, the affinity its molecules have for each other in preference to the molecules of the material to be washed.
We found an important relationship between the surface-active agents and the pore structure of the carbon aerogel particles; a lower hydrophile lipophile balance (HLB) value of the surface active agent leaded to large micro and mesopore volumes and also a large specific surface area in the generated spherical carbon aerogel particles.
They represent important role to the food industry, as surface-active agents and emulsifiers.
