Anionic surfactants have a negative charge
and will readily ionize when mixed with water. Anionic
surfactants are strong detergents and excellent wetting
agents. However, a disadvantage of anionic surfactants is
the potential of the molecules to interact with other ions
in the spray solution, such as calcium, magnesium, and
ferric ions, rendering them unavailable to function as an
activator adjuvant. The negative charge may also cause
anionic surfactants to interact with the herbicide, which
may result in an insoluble herbicide complex.
An anionic surfactant is a type of ionic surfactant used for coating fertilizer materials to improve fertilizer quality. Commonly employed anionic surfactants are sulphonates, particularly alkyl aryl sulphonates, and their action is due primarily to their hydrophobic nature, Sodium stearate 17(C17H35COO-Na+)s an example of an anionic surfactant.
