The research team is currently working with AmorePacific, Korea’s largest cosmetic company, for product testing.(image:KRISS)
SEOUL, Dec.2 (Korea Bizwire) – A technology to make a new ingredient for detergents has been developed by Korean scientists. It is potentially expected to replace surface active agents, or surfactants, the essential component in making shampoo, soap, detergent, and cosmetics, which have been suspected for causing harmful effects on humans.
A research team within the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science led by Dr. Chu Min-cheol said on December 1 that it has successfully developed a “surfact free nano emulsion” technology that can mix oil with water by dissolving oil at room temperature.
The research team is currently working with AmorePacific, Korea’s largest cosmetic company, for product testing. It is projected the mass-production technology would be perfected by the end of 2015 and commercial products based on the technology will be on the market.
The researchers made use of high-frequency wave over 500 kHz to mix oil with water by emulsifying the oil in the size of several tens of nanometers. This technology is applicable to semiconductors, paint, ink, beverage, drug delivery system, or any other area that nano-emulsion is needed in addition to cosmetics and detergent. The research results have been applied with patents with four countries in the world including the United States, Japan, Germany, and China, as well as in Korea.
Dr. Chu, the lead scientist for the project, said, “Early in April we mixed Cetiol oil and natural olive oil with distilled water without the use of surfactants. Even after six month, the liquid stays in a stable state of nano-emulsion.”
By Sean Chung (schung10@koreabizwire.com)
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