persistency in liquid [47]. Besides, certain class of sweeteners cannot be degraded
by human body and become risky since these compounds may end up in large
quantities in surface waters after use. This has already been shown in a study of
German waste and surface waters by Scheurer et al. [87].
3.4 Surfactants
Another diverse group of chemicals viz. Surfactants (surface-active agents) which is
structurally divided into two parts: first, a polar, water-soluble head and second, a
nonpolar hydrocarbon tail, insoluble in water. Surfactants have higher solubility
and cleaning abilities due to which they has occupied higher rank amongst the
detergents and other cleaning substances [50]. A large amount of surfactants are
used in various industries as well as household purpose in daily basis resulting in
dispersion of them into soil, water, sediment etc. Surfactants have been classified,
depending upon the charge on the head group, into cationic, anionic, nonionic and
amphoteric.
Here, the most common and oldest type of surfactant is the anionic surfactants
which are normally found in detergents or common soaps. Quaternary ammonium
compounds (QAC) is the most commonly used cationic surfactants. They are primarily used in hair conditioners, fabric softeners and detergents. The best studied
amphoteric surfactants are amine oxides (AOs). At very beginning, these were
functioned as alternatives to fatty alkanolamides as foam boosters in dishwashing
[16]. AOs are also used in textile industry, in rubber industry, and in deodorant bars
as anti-static agents, as foam stabilisers and polymerisation catalysts and antibacterial agents respectively [94]. Nonionic surfactants are mostly used in various
biotechnological processes and in facilitating solubilisation as well as increasing the
carrier stability of the drug [21].
4 Conclusions
Pollutant in water is a most important topic to discuss since long back years because
it is directly linked with health of the ecosystem including human beings. In current
situation due to uncontrolled urbanization, industrialization and unmanaged activities, a diverse group of pollutant has been entered in our water resources. People
are aware about conventional pollutant like Fluoride, Nitrate and trace metals and
metalloids because their desirable and permissible standard limit are known and
also the causative effects on ecosystem and human health are also well described in
the literature. Since last ten years due to advancement in instrumentations techniques and detection limit researchers have discovered different types of new
contaminants (emerging contaminants) in water resources which are unknown to
our society. Although these emerging contaminants are measurable in different
34
A. Ahamad et al.
by human body and become risky since these compounds may end up in large
quantities in surface waters after use. This has already been shown in a study of
German waste and surface waters by Scheurer et al. [87].
3.4 Surfactants
Another diverse group of chemicals viz. Surfactants (surface-active agents) which is
structurally divided into two parts: first, a polar, water-soluble head and second, a
nonpolar hydrocarbon tail, insoluble in water. Surfactants have higher solubility
and cleaning abilities due to which they has occupied higher rank amongst the
detergents and other cleaning substances [50]. A large amount of surfactants are
used in various industries as well as household purpose in daily basis resulting in
dispersion of them into soil, water, sediment etc. Surfactants have been classified,
depending upon the charge on the head group, into cationic, anionic, nonionic and
amphoteric.
Here, the most common and oldest type of surfactant is the anionic surfactants
which are normally found in detergents or common soaps. Quaternary ammonium
compounds (QAC) is the most commonly used cationic surfactants. They are primarily used in hair conditioners, fabric softeners and detergents. The best studied
amphoteric surfactants are amine oxides (AOs). At very beginning, these were
functioned as alternatives to fatty alkanolamides as foam boosters in dishwashing
[16]. AOs are also used in textile industry, in rubber industry, and in deodorant bars
as anti-static agents, as foam stabilisers and polymerisation catalysts and antibacterial agents respectively [94]. Nonionic surfactants are mostly used in various
biotechnological processes and in facilitating solubilisation as well as increasing the
carrier stability of the drug [21].
4 Conclusions
Pollutant in water is a most important topic to discuss since long back years because
it is directly linked with health of the ecosystem including human beings. In current
situation due to uncontrolled urbanization, industrialization and unmanaged activities, a diverse group of pollutant has been entered in our water resources. People
are aware about conventional pollutant like Fluoride, Nitrate and trace metals and
metalloids because their desirable and permissible standard limit are known and
also the causative effects on ecosystem and human health are also well described in
the literature. Since last ten years due to advancement in instrumentations techniques and detection limit researchers have discovered different types of new
contaminants (emerging contaminants) in water resources which are unknown to
our society. Although these emerging contaminants are measurable in different
34
A. Ahamad et al.