Aujourd’hui, l’impact des conservateurs sur l’homme est remis en question. Il a été entrepris de mieux comprendre les agents antimicrobiens d’un point de vue physico-chimique pour fournir des règles de formulation, qui pourront être utilisées pour proposer à nos laboratoires de formulation des alternatives aux antimicrobiens classiquement utilisés. Ce travail a consisté en la compréhension des caractéristiques structurelles de molécules ayant, entre autre, des propriétés antimicrobiennes ; l’analyse des mécanismes physico-chimiques qui relient ces caractéristiques structurelles à leurs propriétés ; l’optimisation, à la lumière de ces informations, de la formulation de ces molécules. L’étude des familles chimiques, complétée par une étude plus large reliant la modélisation QSAR aux propriétés antimicrobiennes, a permis de conclure que certaines familles d’alcools et dérivés sont des alternatives de choix aux antimicrobiens usuels. Les caractéristiques permettant les meilleures performances étant : une structure asymétrique marquée ; une tête polaire comportant deux groupements hydrophiles, type diol ou mono glycéride ; une longueur de chaîne apolaire comprenant entre 6 et 12 carbones, avec un optimum entre 7 et 10 carbones ; le calcul du HLB résultant de ces caractéristiques donne un HLB compris entre 7 et 11. Les dérivés acides ou la famille des décanols ont permis de préciser l’intérêt d’une insaturation ou la présence d’un β-hydroxy. L’impact de la formulation d’une molécule modèle, le caprate/caprylate de glycérol a montré que dans une émulsion directe, les tensioactifs hydrophiles piègent dans leurs micelles l’actif, ce qui induit une diminution de l’activité antimicrobienne. L’épaisseur hydrophile des têtes polaires empêchent le passage de l’actif en dehors de la micelle vers le micro-organisme. Il est donc recommandé d’utiliser la quantité de tensioactif utile pour tapisser sans excès la surface des gouttes d’huiles. L’épaisseur des têtes polaires hydrophile peut être réduite en sélectionnant les tensioactifs, par exemple des ioniques phosphatés. D’autres paramètres ont été démontrés comme influant, dans une moindre mesure : il est recommandé de privilégier les gélifiants aux tensioactifs lors de l’élaboration d’une texture, d’optimiser le taux d’actif antimicrobien sur taux d’huile et d’utiliser de préférence des huiles peu solvantes de l’actif. / Nowadays, preservatives in personal care are obviously a current issue. The aim of this study was to find out rules for molecular design and formulation conception dealing with a physico-chemistry point of view, in order to avoid classic preservatives. We have studied on structural features for antimicrobial activity and their behaviors in direct emulsions. After studies of various structural families, and a wide QSAR analysis, the result was that molecule with one or two alcohol groups are among the better antimicrobial agents. Especially, we focus on some characteristics, which improve considerably the antimicrobial activity : an asymmetric structure ; a two-hydroxylated polar head like diols or monoglycerids ; the main hydrocarbon tail should contain between 6 and 12 carbons with an optimum between 7 and 10 ; with these characteristics, the HLB value must be located between 7 and 11. An unsaturated bond in a linear chain or a β-hydroxylated group leads to an increase of decontamination. The impact of the formulation in direct emulsions of a model molecule, glycerol octanoate/decanoate, seemed to show that hydrophilic surfactants trap in their micelles the active product, which induces a decrease of the antimicrobial activity. The hydrophilic thickness of polar heads prevents the passage of the active product beyond the micelle to the micro-organism. It is therefore recommended that the quantity of surfactant used to create and stabilize the drops of oil be reduce to a minimum. The hydrophilic thickness of polar heads may be reduced by selecting the surfactants, for example an ionic phosphate. Other parameters have been demonstrated as affecting, to a lesser extent: it is recommended polymers and micro gels are used rather than surfactants in the preparation of a texture to customize the ration antimicrobial on oil and to use preferably non-polar oil.

Ce projet consiste à fabriquer et à étudier des micelles à la fois biocompatibles et capables de relarguer des molécules volatiles bioactives à partir d’une solution aqueuse sous l’influence de stimuli extérieurs tel que le pH, la température ou la concentration. Pour atteindre ce but, nous avons étudiés un nouveau type d’objets micellaires qui sont formés par l’auto-assemblage d’amphiphiles covalents dynamiques (DCAs), des surfactants peu onéreux formés de l’association moléculaire réversible d’un bloc hydrophile et d’un bloc hydrophobe. Ces systèmes peuvent relarger une large gamme de fragrances à partir d’une solution, que cela soit à partir du coeur hydrophobe de la micelle ou alors à partir de l’amphiphile (profragrance). Ils ont aussi été capables de stabiliser en solution des aldéhydes sensibles à l’hydrolyse. / This project relies on the simple design and the study of biocompatible responsive micelles, capable of releasing a hydrophobic bioactive volatile from an aqueous solution and that, depending on the modulation of external factors such as pH, temperature, and concentration. To reach this goal, we have taken advantages of a new kind of micellar objects that are formed by the efficient self-assembly of biodegradable Dynamic Covalent Amphiphiles (DCAs), low cost surfactants that are made by the reversible molecular association of one hydrophilic and one hydrophobic block. These systems can release a broad variety of fragrances from solution, both from the hydrophobic micellar core or directly from the amphiphile (profragrance). It also proved able to stabilise some sensitive aldehydes in solution.

Nous présentons au cours de ce manuscrit diverses expériences de dépôt de tensioactifs solubles dans l'eau à l'interface entre deux fluides. Après quelques développements théoriques, nous étudions l'étalement de tensioactifs solubles déposés à une interface eau/air. Nous présentons au cours de cette partie deux configurations expérimentales dans lesquelles ces molécules exhibent une vitesse caractéristique d'écoulement induit ainsi qu'une distance finie d'étalement dépendant de la CMC du surfactant utilisé, qui se traduit par l'apparition d'une tache centimétrique à la surface de l'eau. Nous mettons alors au point un protocole de mesure simple et rapide de CMC utilisant notre dispositif expérimental. À cet étalement s'ajoutent une déformation verticale de l'interface, la mise en place d'une double recirculation toroïdale, ainsi qu'une instabilité hydrodynamique de surface tout autour de la tache. La deuxième expérience porte sur l'étalement de tensioactifs solubles à une interface eau/huile. Dans cette expérience, les déformations verticales induites par l'étalement peuvent devenir très importantes, si bien que sous certaines conditions cette déformation crée un trou dans la couche d'huile. Nous nous penchons donc sur l'étude de ces déformations verticales, ainsi que sur les caractéristiques de ce cratère. Enfin, la dernière partie traite du dépôt d'une goutte de Triton X-100 à la surface de l'eau. Ce tensioactif possède la propriété de gélifier lorsqu'il est hydraté, ce qui lui permet de flotter. On observe alors un phénomène d'auto-propulsion de la goutte. Nous nous intéressons plus particulièrement à la structure microscopique de cette phase gel, ainsi qu'aux trajectoires erratiques empruntées par la goutte. / We report experiments about the deposition of water soluble surfactants at the interface between two fluids. After some theoretical developments, we study the spreading of water soluble amphiphiles at the water/air interface. In this part, we present two experimental setups where these molecules show a typical induced flow velocity, and a finite spreading distance, depending on the CMC of surfactant we use, which results in the apparition of a coronna on the surface of the liquid. We then set up a fast and simple CMC measurement protocole using our experimental setup. This spreading induces also a vertical deformation of the interface, a double toroidal recirculation in the bulk, and a beatiful hydrodynamic surface instability all around the coronna. The second experiment is about the spreading of amphiphiles at the interface between oil and water. In this experiment, the vertical deformations induced by the spreading can become so important that under certain circumstances, we manage to create a hole in the oil layer. We focus on the study of these vertical deformations and on the caracteristics of this hole. Finally, the last experiment is about the deposition of a Triton X-100 drop at the water/air interface. This molecule has the ability to gelify when it gets hydrated, allowing him to float. Then we can observe the self propulsion of the droplet. We focus on the microscopic structure of this gel phase, and also on the erratic trajectories followed by the drop.

Les propriétés des mousses liquides sont majoritairement gouvernées par les caractéristiques de leurs interfaces liquide/gaz. Nous illustrons ces effets à l'échelle locale par différents exemples : – Les réarrangements topologiques, pendant lesquels les bulles changent de voisines, sont les événements élémentaires à l'origine de propriétés rhéologiques et de stabilité des mousses. En réalisant des expériences sur une assemblée de films dans un cadre cubique, nous avons étudié les mécanismes de formation du nouveau film pour différentes solutions de tensioactifs modifiant les propriétés interfaciales. – L'observation de l'éclatement d'un film de savon unique montre que cette dynamique est ralentie à cause de l'élasticité des interfaces, jusqu'à l'apparition de rides ou de fractures pour une compression critique. – Par des mesures force/déplacement, nous avons montré qu'un radeau de particules se comporte comme un granulaire 2D, qui peut se déformer en-dehors du plan de l'interface, et dans lequel la contrainte peut dépendre de la friction à la paroi. De plus, l'ajout de ponts capillaires entre les particules procure au radeau une meilleure résistance à la traction et à la compression. – En injectant de l'air dans une pâte, nous avons créé des bulles stables dans des conditions permettant l'adsorption des tensioactifs à la surface des particules pour les rendre partiellement mouillantes. En utilisant ce mécanisme dans un système cimentaire, des bulles solides sont alors fabriquées / Properties of liquid foams are mainly governed by the features of liquid/gas interfaces. We illustrate this phenomenon at the local scale through different examples : – Topological rearrangements, i.e. switching of neighboring bubbles, are the elementary process of liquid foams stability and dynamics. Experiments are performed in a cubic assembly of films, in order to investigate the mechanism of creation of the new film for different surfactants solutions and therefore different interfacial properties. – Observation of soap film bursting shows that the dynamics is slowed down because of interfacial elasticity, until wrinkles or cracks appear for a critical compression. – Through strength/displacement measurements, we show that a particle raft behaves as a 2D granular material, which can buckle, and whose stress can depend on wall friction. Moreover, the addition of liquid bridges between particles provides higher compressive and tensile strengths to the raft. – Blowing air into a paste allows creating stable bubbles, when surfactants adsorb at particles surface, modifying their wetting properties. We demonstrate that this method can lead to solid bubbles with a cementitious system

[EN] Different strategies were used to improve physical properties of corn starch based films, with glycerol (30%) as plasticizer, based on increasing their hydrophobic character in order to reduce the materials' water sensitivity. Starch was blended with different components (surfactants and more hydrophobic polymers), with and without compatibilizers, to obtain blend films through different processing techniques (casting, melt blending, compression molding and extrusion). Bilayer film formation by compression molding with starch and poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) was also studied. The addition of surfactants to starch films obtained by casting gave rise to a decrease in water vapor permeability (WVP), but an increase in the film fragility was observed. Surfactants with lower hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB), solid at room temperature, promoted a fine microstructure in the matrix with smaller lipid particle, which enhanced water vapor barrier properties. Thermo-processing was used to obtain the other films due to its broader industrial application. Starch blends with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) showed an HPMC dispersed phase in the starch matrix and better water barrier properties, but they were more permeable to oxygen, especially when they contained citric acid (CA) as compatibilizer. CA induced cross-linking in the polymeric matrix, thus slightly increasing film hardness, but decreasing its extensibility. The incorporation of PCL in different ratios to starch films obtained by compression molding gave rise to polymer phase separation, although a small PCL miscibility in the starch rich phase was detected, which reduced the glass transition temperature of the starch phase. The structural heterogeneity and lack of interfacial adhesion between polymers gave rise to fragile films. Nevertheless, small amounts of PCL (10%) reinforced the matrix (increase in the elastic modulus). When the PCL ratio increased, WVP was reduced but oxygen permeability increased. The incorporation of CA as compatibilizer of these blends provoked an increase in the water solubility of the films, by hydrolysis, and improved the mechanical properties of the films when PCL ratio was low (10%), but it did not affect the film barrier properties. The incorporation of polyethylene glycol (PEG 4000) to the blends with a low proportion of PCL did not imply an improvement in the film properties, since it promoted phase separation. Starch-PCL blends with 1:0.05 mass ratio, without compatibilizer, were quite homogenous and exhibited good mechanical properties and stability. In order to incorporate greater amounts of PCL, thus improving film hydrophobicity and stability, PCL was chemically modified by grafting glycidyl methacrylate or glycidyl methacrylate and maleic anhydride (PCL-g), to be used as compatibilizers. Films with 20 % PCL and 2.5 or 5 % of PCL-g showed very good mechanical and barrier properties and stability, inhibiting starch retrogradation. Their barrier properties met the food packaging requirements for a wide number of food products. Bilayer films obtained by compression molding of starch (or starch with 5% PCL) and PCL layers showed very low WVP and oxygen permeability and adequate mechanical properties. The adhesion of bilayers was greatly improved by the application of ascorbic acid and, especially, potassium sorbate, as aqueous solutions, at the interface before compression molding. These compounds, in turn, imparted antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, respectively, to the films, thus improving their potential use as active packaging material for food uses. / [ES] Se han utilizado diversas estrategias para mejorar las propiedades físicas de films a base de almidón de maíz, con glicerol (30 %) como plastificante, basadas en el incremento de su carácter hidrofóbico, para reducir su sensibilidad al agua. El almidón se mezcló con diferentes compuestos (surfactantes y polímeros más hidrofóbicos), con y sin compatilizadores, para la obtención de films mixtos por diferentes técnicas de procesado (casting, mezclado en fundido, moldeo por compresión y extrusión). Se estudió también la formación de films bicapa almidón-poli-e-caprolactona (PCL) mediante moldeo por compresión. La adición de surfactantes a los films de almidón elaborados por casting dio lugar a una disminución de su permeabilidad al vapor de agua (WVP), pero aumentó su fragilidad. Los surfactantes con menor balance hidrófilo-lipófilo (HLB), y sólidos a temperatura ambiente, proporcionaron una microestructura de los films con menor tamaño de partícula, que potenció las propiedades barrera al vapor de agua. Por su mayor aplicabilidad industrial, se emplearon técnicas de termo-procesado para la obtención del resto de films estudiados. Los obtenidos por mezcla con hidroxipropil metilcelulosa (HPMC) presentaron una fase dispersa de HPMC en la matriz de almidón y mejores propiedades barrera al vapor de agua, pero fueron algo más permeables al oxígeno, sobre todo cuando se incorporó ácido cítrico (CA) como compatibilizador. Este provocó entrecruzamiento en la matriz polimérica, incrementado ligeramente su dureza y reduciendo su extensibilidad. La incorporación de PCL en diferentes proporciones a los films de almidón obtenidos por termo-compresión, dio lugar a la separación de fases polímericas, detectándose una pequeña miscibilidad de la PCL en la fase rica en almidón que redujo la temperatura de transición vítrea de la fase amilácea. La heterogeneidad de su estructura y la falta de adhesión entre fases dio lugar a films demasiado frágiles, aunque en pequeña proporción (10%), la PCL reforzó la matriz (aumentó el módulo de elasticidad). Al aumentar la proporción de PCL, disminuyó la WVP de los films, pero aumentó la permeabilidad al oxígeno. La incorporación de CA como compatibilizador de estas mezclas aumentó la solubilidad en agua de los films por efecto de hidrólisis y supuso una mejora en las propiedades mecánicas de los films con baja proporción de PCL (10 %), pero no afectó a sus propiedades barrera. La incorporación de polietilenglicol (PEG 4000) a las mezclas con baja proporción de PCL no mejoró las propiedades de los films, potenciando la separación de fases. Las mezclas almidón:PCL con proporción másica 1:0.05, sin compatibilizador, fueron bastante homogéneas y exhibieron buen comportamiento mecánico y estabilidad. Para incorporar una mayor proporción de PCL, y mejorar la hidrofobicidad y estabilidad de los films, se modificó la PCL por reacción con glicidil metacrilato o anhídrido maleico y glicidil metacrilato (PCL-g), para su uso como compatibilizadores. Los films con 20% de PCL y 2.5 y 5 % de los PCL-g presentaron muy buenas propiedades mecánicas y de barrera al vapor de agua y a los gases y buena estabilidad al inhibir la retrogradación del almidón. Sus propiedades de barrera cumplieron con los requisitos de envasado de un número importante de productos alimentarios. La obtención de films bicapa por termo-compresión a partir de almidón (o almidón con 5% PCL) y PCL proporcionó un material con muy baja permeabilidad al vapor de agua y al oxígeno y buenas propiedades mecánicas. La adhesión entre las capas mejoró en gran medida con la incorporación de ácido ascórbico, y sobre todo de sorbato potásico, en la interfase en forma de disolución acuosa antes de la termo-compresión. Estos compuestos impartieron, a su vez, propiedades antioxidantes y antimicrobianas, respectivamente, a los films, mejorando su uso potencial para el envasad / [CAT] S'han utilitzat diverses estratègies per a millorar les propietats físiques de films a base de midó de dacsa, amb glicerol (30 %) com plastificant, basades en l'increment del seu caràcter hidrofòbic, per a reduir la seua sensibilitat a l'aigüa. El midó es va mesclar amb diferents compostos (surfactants i polímers més hidrofòbics), amb i sense compatibilitzadors, per l'obtenció de films mixtos mitjançant diferents tècniques de processat (càsting, mesclat en fos, modelatge per compressió i extrusió). Es va estudiar també la formació de films bicapa midó-poli-e-caprolactona (PCL) mitjançant modelatge per compressió. L'addició de surfactants als films de midó elaborats per càsting va donar lloc a una disminució de la seua permeabilitat al vapor d'aigüa (WVP), però va augmentar la seua fragilitat. Els surfactants amb menor balanç hidròfil-lipòfil (HLB), i sòlids a temperatura ambient, varen proporcionar una microestructura dels films amb menor grandària de partícula, que varen potenciar les propietats barrera al vapor d'aigüa. Per la seua major aplicabilitat industrial, es van emprar tècniques de termo-processat per l'obtenció de la resta de films estudiats. Aquells obtinguts per mescla amb hidroxipropil-metilcellulosa (HPMC) varen presentar una fase dispersa de HPMC en la matriu de midó i millors propietats barrera al vapor d'aigüa, però varen ser un poc més permeables a l'oxigen, sobretot quan es va incorporar àcid cítric (CA) com compatibilitzador. Aquest va provocar entrecreuament en la matriu polimérica, incrementant lleugerament la seua duresa i reduïnt la seua extensibilitat. La incorporació de PCL en diferents proporcions als films de midó obtinguts per termo-compressió, va donar lloc a la separació de fases polimèriques, detectant-se una xicoteta miscibilitat de la PCL en la fase rica en midó que va reduir la temperatura de transició vítria de la fase amilàcea. L'heterogeneïtat de la seua estructura i la falta d'adhesió entre fases va donar lloc a films massa fràgils, encara que en xicoteta proporció (10%), la PCL va reforçar la matriu (augmentant el mòdul d'elasticitat). Al augmentar la proporció de PCL, va disminuir la WVP dels films, però va augmentar la permeabilitat a l'oxigen. La incorporació de CA com compatibilitzador d'aquestes mescles va augmentar la solubilitat en aigüa dels films per efecte d'hidròlisi i va suposar una millora en les propietats mecàniques dels films amb baixa proporció de PCL (10 %), però no va afectar les propietats barrera. La incorporació de polietilenglicol (PEG 4000) a les mescles amb baixa proporció de PCL no va millorar les propietats dels films, potenciant la separació de fases. Les mescles midó:PCL amb proporció màssica 1:0.05, sense compatibilitzador, varen ser prou homogènies i varen exhibir un bon comportament mecànic i una bona estabilitat. Per a incorporar una major proporció de PCL i millorar l'hidrofobicitat i estabilitat dels films, es va modificar la PCL per reacció amb glicidil metacrilat o anhídrid maleic i glicidil metacrilat (PCL-g), per al seu ús com compatibilitzadors. Els films amb 20% de PCL i 2.5 i 5 % dels PCL-g varen presentar molt bones propietats mecàniques i de barrera al vapor d'aigüa i als gasos i bona estabilitat al inhibir la retrogradació del midó. Les seues propietats de barrera varen complir amb els requisits d'envasament d'un nombre important de productes alimentaris. L'obtenció de films bicapa per termo-compressió a partir de midó (o midó amb 5% PCL) i PCL va proporcionar un material amb molt baixa permeabilitat al vapor d'aigüa i al oxigen i bones propietats mecàniques. L'adhesió entre les capes va millorar en gran mesura amb l'incorporació d'àcid ascòrbic, i sobretot de sorbat de potassi, en la interfase en forma de dissolució aquosa abans de la termocompressió. Aquestos compostos varen impartir, a la vegada, propietats antioxidants i antimicrobianes, respec / Ortega Toro, R. (2015). DESARROLLO Y CARACTERIZACION DE PELÍCULAS DE ALMIDÓN DE MAÍZ POR MEZCLADO CON COMPUESTOS MÁS HIDROFÓBICOS [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/52521 / TESIS

The aim of this diploma thesis was to investigate the effect of surfactants and cosmetic polysaccharides on skin parameters and its microbiome. Three surfactants were tested to determine their effect: Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS), Cocamidopropyl Betaine (CAPB), Decylglucoside (DG). Distilled water was also used for comparison. For the next part of the experimental work were selected 6 polysaccharides: high molecular weight Hyaluronic Acid (HMW HA), very low molecular weight Hyaluronic Acid (VLMW HA), Sodium Caproyl Hyaluronate (CaproylHA), Sodium Carboxymethyl -Glucan (NaCMG), Schizophyllan and Glucomannan. For comparison, placebo and untreated control (only CAPB treatment) were also included in the tests. The first part of the work is a literature search on the assigned topic, which contains the following parts: skin anatomy and its biophysical properties, skin microbiome and its functions, description of used surfactants and polysaccharides. The experimental part is mainly focused on bioengineering methods for evaluation of skin parameters and qRT-PCR to determine the relative proportion of main bacterial species of skin microbiome. First, the effect on the CT gene of 16S rDNA was analysed, and Propionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis strains were selected for further analysis. In conclusion are presented an overview of all properties of selected substances and assessment of their application in cosmetics.

The submitted thesis deals within the sensitive fluorimetric determination of scandium with a new reagent 8-Hydroxyquinoline-5-sulphonic acid. All important factors such as time, pH, reagent concentration, buffers, surfactants and selected interferents have been studied with respect to the selectivity, sensitivity, precision and detection limit on the determination by using classic fluorescence spectra and their first derivation. This reagent was also used for the determination of scandium in real waters. The new reagent was shortly compared to morin and lumogallion when used for scandium.

This master thesis is focused on waste waters from cosmetics industry and basic indicators of these waters. The pollution of the environment caused by increase industrial development has a negative effect on ecosystem. Waste waters are part of the pollution. In theoretical part a basic indicators of waters (its definition and way of determination) have been described. Membrane processes for water purification have been mentioned as well – particularly the ultrafiltration. The experimental part of thesis deals with practical determination of indicators mentioned in methods described in the theoretical part. Results are discussed at the close. The discussion is focused on evaluation of efficiency of the device for waste waters adjustment, which is in use in the Dermacol company, which produces cosmetics products.

This master thesis is dealing with the use of light scattering techniques in the study on formation of polyelectrolyte complexes in the system biopolymer-surfactant. Sodium hyaluronate was chosen as biopolymer and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and karbethopendecinium bromide were selected as surfactants. The first precipitation experiments were performed to determine the optimal concentration range of surfactants for subsequent titration measurements performed on Zetasizer Nano ZS and for SEC-MALS analysis. The key parameters obtained from these measurements were the values of critical aggregation concentrations in hyaluronate-surfactant systems. It was found out that the increasing molecular weight of hyaluronan in these systems is causing reduction of obtained values of critical aggregation concentrations. Changes of Z-average particle size, zeta potential, polydispersity index, conformation plot, radius of gyration and molecular weight in the hyaluronan-surfactant system were monitored during experiments.

Thanks to their adaptability and high efficiency compared to traditional carbon based surfactants, silicone surfactants are a success in many different applications, from pesticides to cosmetics, polyurethane foam, textile and car care products. In spite of those numerous applications, no analytical method existed for their trace determination in environmental samples and no data have been available regarding their environmental occurrence and fate. An analytical method for the trace analysis of trisiloxane surfactants in the aqueous environment was developed and validated. The method, based on liquid-liquid extraction and HPLC-MS/MS, reaches limits of quantification in the ng L-1 range and allows an individual quantification of every homologue of the targeted trisiloxane surfactant. The newly developed analytical method was applied to analyze 40 river water samples. The targeted trisiloxane surfactant was detected in 14 samples, between 1 ng L-1 and 100 ng L-1. The results showed that the studied trisiloxane surfactant does not ubiquitously occur in the aquatic environment in measurable concentrations, but can reach surface waters on a local scale. In order to assess the persistence of the trisiloxane surfactant in surface waters, its hydrolysis was studied in the lab, under various conditions (temperature, pH, and concentration). The half-lifes at pH 7 and 2 mg L-1 were found to be between 29 days and 55 days at 25°C and between 151 days and 289 days at 12°C. Taking only into account the hydrolysis, these results indicate that the trisiloxane surfactant could persist several weeks in surface waters. A degradation product of the trisiloxane surfactant was tentatively identified by high resolution mass spectrometry. When used as agricultural adjuvants, trisiloxane surfactants may reach the soil compartment and might further leach to ground water. The behavior of the trisiloxane surfactant on soil was therefore investigated to assess the possibility to reach ground water. With a sorption batch equilibrium method, distribution coefficients between water and soil (Kd, Koc, and Kclay) were estimated for two standard soils (loam and sandy loam) and for every homologue of the trisiloxane surfactant. The obtained values for Kd were between 15 L kg-1 and 135 L kg-1, indicating that the trisiloxane surfactant is only slightly mobile in soil. To further investigate the possibility of leaching to ground water after application on agricultural fields, the leaching in soil was simulated in the lab in a soil column. The experimental settings were designed to simulate a worst case scenario where the application of the trisiloxane surfactant is done on quartz sand and is immediately followed by a heavy rainfall. Even in these conditions, less than 0.01 % of the initially applied trisiloxane surfactant leached through 20 cm of quartz sand. Based on the Kd values and the results of the leaching in soil column, the studied trisiloxane surfactant is considered to be unlikely to leach to ground water after application as an agricultural adjuvant.