Reduced Interfacial Tension, Surface Tension and Improved Wetting Characteristics

Answering the question of how cleaning and other chemical processes are enhanced with the Protein-Surfactant Complex

Improved Wetting with P-SS™ Technology

Advanced BioCatalytics Corporation’s P-SS™ (Protein-Surfactant Synergists™) technology has achieved the ability to "leverage" surfactants by blending them with its proteins which creates a Protein-Surfactant Complex, or PSC. The leveraging effect creates a more versatile intelligent surfactant system with several benefits. The major benefit created by the PSC is the reduction in interfacial tension (IFT). Reductions in surface tension, dynamic surface tension and critical micelle concentration are also achieved with the PSC compared to surfactants alone.

Interfacial tension is a measure of the interactive energy between two immiscible liquids/chemicals, or a liquid and a solid surface, such as oil on a floor. The lowering of this interactive energy allows the PSC cleaners to lift contaminants off surfaces more efficiently.

Tailored with the addition of ABC’s proteins, reduction in IFT and surface tension can be achieved with reduced levels of surfactants. The ability to reduce surfactant levels is a result of lowering of critical micelle concentrations by up to two orders of magnitude in many instances with the use of P-SS™ (Protein-Surfactant Synergists™) technology.

Value added improvements in process performance and yields lead to cost reductions. In some cases direct reduction in surfactant costs can be achieved. Reduced surfactant utilization translates into a smaller carbon footprint. Finally, the intelligent surfactant phenomenon means that the product is self-adapting to variations in a wide range of use conditions.

Foaming is another characteristic that is affected by a solution’s surface tension. When foaming is desirable, performance with the PSC can be improved by creating foam of a desirable and controlled stability, density, and tolerant to a wide range of pH, from acidic, to neutral, to alkaline solutions. Lower levels of surfactant typically needed than in conventional surfactant systems.

If you are interested in specific details of ABC's surface tension and wetting technology or have an application area in mind, please contact us at info@abiocat.com