Nonionic surfactants

Non-ionic surfactants are surfactants that contain no dissociable functional groups and therefore do not separate into ions in water. Like any surfactant, non-ionic surfactants are also composed of a non-polar and a polar part. A fatty alcohol (C12-C18) or octyl- or nonylphenols are usually used as the non-polar part. The polar groups are hydroxy group and ether groups. These groups are contained in polyethylene glycol or monosaccharides. Nonionic surfactants are particularly well tolerated by humans and are therefore used (surfactants are called emulsifiers in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals) for face cleansing lotions, disinfectants or other cosmetics.