An Overview on Cationic Surfactant

Surfactants are compounds that lower the surface tension (or interfacial tension) between two liquids or between a liquid and a solid. Cationic surfactants are basically soaps or detergents, in which the hydrophilic, or waterloving, end contains a positively-charged ion, or cation. Typical examples are trimethylalkylammonium chlorides, and the chlorides or bromides of benzalkonium and alkylpyridinium ions. All are examples of quats, so named because they all contain a quaternary ammonium ion.