Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Most people know that oil and water do not mix. Take a tablespoon of cooking oil and place it in a glass of water and see what happens. However, it is possible to make a mixture of oil and water mix by using another substance; in fact, that is what we do when we make mayonnaise. This process, called emulsification, is a primary use of certain substances called surfactants (for surface active agents). These materials possess both water loving (hydrophilic) and water-hating (hydrophobic) characteristics. Surfactants are formulated into a vast array of consumer products such as shampoos, laundry detergents, and dish detergents, and are intimately involved in a number of facets of industrial production. Emulsification and industrial applications of surfactants are mainly focused on the ability to make water insoluble materials soluble, and/or 'lift' oily materials from surfaces. Despite the wide and varied usage, many common surfactants have the same basic chemical structure. Our research program deals with the synthesis of new surfactants that have unique chemical structures, possibly making them perform better in commercial formulations with less damaging consequences to the environment. We are currently focusing our efforts on synthesizing surfactants that have superior hard water tolerance (no soap scum and good foaming ability in hard water) and excellent detergent properties. We will also be turning our attention to the production and characterization of new materials for environmentally friendly detergents and dry cleaning processes. These may eventually lead to new formulations and new products that have superior cleansing properties in consumer applications and better emulsifiers for industrial formulation.