ISSN: 2320-5407 Int. J. Adv. Res. 7(12), 501-507 501 Journal Homepage: - www.journalijar.com Article DOI: 10.21474/IJAR01/10175 DOI URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.21474/IJAR01/10175 RESEARCH ARTICLE THE ROLE OF SURFACTANTS IN LIQUID SOAPS AND ITS ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES S. Nazdrajic 1 and A. Bratovcic 2 1. Senior Assistant, Faculty of Education, University “Dzemal Bijedic” in Mostar, University Campus bb, 88000 Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. 2. Associate Professor, Department of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Faculty of Technology, University of Tuzla, Univerzitetska 8, 75000 Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina. …………………………………………………………………………………………………….... Manuscript Info Abstract ……………………. ……………………………………………………………… Manuscript History Received: 05 October 2019 Final Accepted: 07 November 2019 Published: December 2019 Key words:- Liquid soap, Surfactants, Antimicrobial properties A typical liquid soap is composed of a mixture of different types of surfactants to achieve the desired cleaning and foaming properties. Several thermodynamic and transport properties of surfactant solutions are affected by the size and shape of micelles. Only surfactant monomers contribute to lowering the surface and interfacial tension, while wetting and foaming properties are governed by the concentration of free monomers in solution. The success of surfactants formulation in a liquid soap is reflected on physical stability of the final product, mildness, wetting, foam volume and foam stability. Furthermore, this study reveals that when amphoteric and nonionic surfactants are used with anionic surfactants, foaming of the formulations are improved. Amphoteric surfactants have antibacterial properties, low toxicity, excellent resistance to hard water, and is suitable with various kinds of surfactants. Mixing anionic and cationic surfactants is not recommended. The aim of this paper is to show the influence of individual surfactants and their mixtures on the final properties of liquid soaps as well as the antimicrobial activity of surfactants and the advantages of biosurfactants. The highest antimicrobial activity is reported for surfactants containing 10-14 carbon atoms in their chain. The toxicity of cationic surfactants is the highest, then follow anionic and the last one is nonionic. Biosurfactants show the same functionality as the chemical synthetized surfactants, but biosurfactants are more environmentally friendly, with lower toxicity and biodegradable ability. Copy Right, IJAR, 2019,. All rights reserved. …………………………………………………………………………………………………….... Introduction:- One of the most important and extensively investigated segments of skincare market is soaps and liquid soaps. Soap is considered the oldest cosmetic product and also plays an important role in daily life. The initial development of liquid soaps may be dated to as early as the 1940s. In the 1960s and 1970s liquid soaps started to appear as institutional and hospital health care hand washing products, some using simple liquid fatty acid coco soaps and some using blends of synthetic surfactants. In the late 1970s liquid soaps were developed and launched on the global market in the U.S. The liquid soaps offered some advantages over conventional bar soaps, and they soon gained consumer acceptance and became increasingly popular. Soaps are detergents based on synthetic surfactants and Corresponding Author:- S. Nazdrajic Address:- Senior Assistant, Faculty of Education, University “Dzemal Bijedic” in Mostar, University Campus bb, 88000 Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina.