Volume 61, Issue 3

The laundry process is energy-intensive and an important target for reducing residential environmental impacts. Category life-cycle analysis (LCA) studies show the primary environmental impact is due to the energy consumed during the use phase, mainly for heating water. However, doing the laundry is a complex socio-technical system, where addressing sustainability requires not only technical levers but also an understanding of users’ habits, practices, and belief systems. This study investigates if and how consumers change their laundry habits and product satisfaction when using a technically lower-performing eco-brand detergent compared to a heavy duty high-performance detergent. These represent two distinct sustainable innovation strategies within the detergent industry, i) high-performance detergents formulated to provide excellent cleaning performance at lower wash temperatures and ii) eco-brand detergents optimized for a lower ingredient footprint but reducing cleaning performance. It is hypothesized that consumers may compensate in ways detrimental to the overall sustainability of the laundry lifecycle. The results showed significantly lower consumer satisfaction with the eco-brand performance which led to compensatory behavior including increased detergent dosing and higher wash temperatures. This study confirms the importance of detergent cleaning performance for sustainable consumer habit changes regarding lower wash temperatures.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential applications of micellar extracts derived from Bistortae rhizoma , Fraxinus excelsior , and Romex crispus as components of hair shampoos and to examine the impact of these micellar extracts on the specific properties of the formulated cosmetics. The antioxidant activity, polyphenol content, and vitamin C content of the plant materials selected for the study were assessed. In addition, particle size analysis was performed for the obtained micellar extracts. The shampoos prepared on the basis of original formulations were evaluated for irritation potential, viscosity, foam stability index, and color. The plants evaluated in the study exhibited a high level of antioxidant activity, and the derived extracts were found to contain micellar aggregates. The application of the extracts was shown to reduce the skin irritation potential of the shampoos and reduce their viscosity. In addition, the formulated shampoos were characterized by a high foam stability index. Substantial variations in the color of the cosmetics were observed upon the introduction of the micellar extracts into the formulations.

Bicelles can be formed by mixing in given mole fractions two ethoxylated alkyl ether carboxylic acid surfactants of very different HLB in water. We determine the effect of adding three of the most used additives in formulation in health- and home care: propylene glycol, glycerol, and ethanol. The effects of additives are determined and compared in a concentrated isotropic phase above the LCST, a pseudo-lamellar phase, and a discotic nematic phase. The two latter are birefringent, and the nematic phase is viscoelastic. Propylene glycol acts as a co-solvent, improving the temperature stability of the nematic phase up to 20 wt% propylene glycol. Further addition of propylene glycol reduces the phase transition temperatures, inducing microstructural changes due to headgroup dehydration and preferential solubilization of the hydrophilic short chain surfactant. Glycerol acts as an anti-solvent, progressively decreasing phase transition temperatures by dehydration of headgroups. Ethanol is a good co-solvent for the surfactant-mixture. Adding up to 5 wt% ethanol increases the temperature stability of the nematic phase. Higher concentrations of ethanol lead to a single isotropic phase with increasingly molecular dissolution of the surfactants. The effect of the considered additives on molecular packing is followed by high resolution X-ray scattering.

Nanoparticles can be adsorbed at the gas-liquid interface to improve the stability of foam. However, homogeneous nanoparticles exhibit low surface activity, and their migration to the gas-liquid interface requires significant energy input. This leads to harsh foaming conditions and severely limits the application of homogeneous nanoparticles in foam stability. A microfluidic visualisation model for the study of Janus nanoparticle complex systems was used to investigate the formation behaviour of trapped bubbles in a single connected pore-throat model. The foam generated in the pore showed reduced quantities, sizes, improved quality, and enhanced stability compared to both surfactant systems and hydrophilic nanoparticle complex systems.

Ellagic acid (EA) is a natural antioxidant found in many fruits and vegetables. However, its solubility in water is poor, which limits its application. To overcome this limitation, the surfactants Span 20 and Tween 60 are used to increase its solubility in water. FTIR, TEM and laser particle size and zeta potential analysis were used to characterize the morphology and structure of ellagic acid emulsions. The antioxidant activity of surfactant-compatible ellagic acid was determined using various antioxidant evaluation methods such as DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging, reducing power and total antioxidant activity. The results indicate that the solubility of ellagic acid in water was improved by the addition of Span 20 and Tween 60, and ellagic acid formed complex particles in combination with Span 20 and Tween 60. Compared to pure ellagic acid, the antioxidant activity of ellagic acid lotion was significantly enhanced.

Analysing the possibilities of obtaining biosurfactants and using waste materials as substrates for their production allows us to emphasize that biosurfactants are in line with the ideas of sustainable development and the protection of non-renewable resources. These ideas also apply to the engineering and technology of cosmetic products. For this reason, and because of the multi-functionality of biosurfactants, their role and widespread use in cosmetic formulations is likely to increase. Biosurfactants tend to have good surface properties. Their structural diversity results in differences in biological, antioxidant or biocidal activity. The paper presents the potential of biosurfactants that could be used in the composition of products dedicated to the fight against the problems of ageing skin. Particularly important in the skin ageing process is the fight against radicals and the prevention of collagen loss in the skin. The overall appearance of the skin also depends on the level of hydration and roughness. Biosurfactants also have an effect on the melanogenesis process, controlling hyperpigmentation. A relatively new approach to the fight against skin ageing emphasizes the role of the microbiome, and available research also points to the correlation of biosurfactants with maintaining the correct structure of the microbiome.

Foamers with high resistance to condensate, salinity and high temperature play a crucial role in gas well deliquification. In this study, we developed an efficient foaming mixture containing a Gemini surfactant (CAGB), a betaine surfactant (CAPB) and sodium lauroyl glutamate (SLG), which exhibited excellent foaming performance (at a molar ratio of 3:3:4 and a dosage of 20 mmol L −1 ) with a foam volume of 440 mL and a half-life of 11 min. The optimized CAGB/CAPB/SLG mixture showed exceptional liquid unloading and foaming ability under high methanol (up to 40 vol.%) and condensate (up to 50 vol.%) content conditions. Trisodium aminotriacetate (NTA) facilitated the liquid unloading performance at a salinity of 90 g L −1 . With 10 vol.% methanol, the liquid unloading rate of CAGB/CAPB/SLG foam at 90 °C could be increased to 90 %. Furthermore, surface tension and morphology analysis confirmed the presence of synergy within the CAGB/CAPB/SLG mixture in foaming, foam stabilizing and liquid unloading ability.

The objective of the research was to investigate the influence of kerosene and oleic acid on emulsion formation. The two solutions were combined to form an emulsion by dispersing the kerosene solution into small droplets within the aqueous phase with the assistance of oleic acid. The surfactant reduced the interfacial tension between the two solutions, facilitating the emulsification process and stabilizing the droplets formed. A comprehensive understanding of the variables that control to the formation and stability of emulsions is essential for their effective development. For this purpose, the stability of oil-in-water emulsions was evaluated by measuring droplet size, turbidity, zeta potential, surface tension, and conductivity. Improved emulsion stability was correlated with smaller droplet size, increased turbidity, and reduced surface tension. The results of this research have significant potential for a variety of industrial applications.