For those who are deeply interested in how cleaners clean our needlework

I know we've had discussions about surfactants (harshness,
effectiveness) on here before so thought I'd pass along this article.
Enjoy!


Study Done of How Soap Clings to Water

Sep 9, 8:08 AM (ET)

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - Scientists have learned how molecules found in many
soaps and detergents cling to the surface of water, which may help
develop better methods for cleaning up environmental hazards.

The molecules are known as "surfactants" and are among the most useful
chemicals in the world, found in products ranging from motor oil to
cosmetics, said Geri Richmond, a University of Oregon chemist who led
the research.

They are also key ingredients for environmental clean-up and oil
recovery, she said.

Using a unique combination of laser-based experiments and computer
modeling, her research team discovered how the surfactants tilt and
twist in order to stay on the surface.

The study adds insights into research on how the surfactant molecules
can actually change the properties of water at the surface.

Richmond compared the molecules to hungry tadpoles that bury their heads
in the oil or other contaminant on the surface and leave their tails
sticking up out of the water.

"This is a general approach that has broad implications for a variety of
chemically and biologically important applications," Richmond said.

Her lab specializes in the chemistry involved in semiconductor
processing and environmental clean-up efforts. Funding for the research
on surface chemistry came from the U.S. Department of Energy, the
National Science Foundation and the Office of Naval Research.

The study appears in the Sept. 8 issue of the Journal of Physical
Chemistry B.

University of Oregon Materials Science Institute:
http://materialscience.uoregon.edu/

Journal of Physical Chemistry B:
http://acsinfo.acs.org/journals/jpcbfk/index.html

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Brenda
NEW to Styx, classic to the world: Big Bang Theory