The term surfactant is a blend of "surface acting agent". Surfactants reduce the surface tension of water by adsorbing at the liquid-gas interface. They also reduce the interfacial tension between oil and water by adsorbing at the liquid-liquid interface. Surfactants are wetting agents that lower the surface tension of a liquid, allowing easier spreading, and lower the interfacial tension between two liquids.

An emulsion is a mixture of two immiscible (unblendable) substances. One substance (the dispersed phase) is dispersed in the other (the continuous phase). Examples of emulsions include butter and margarine, milk and cream, espresso, mayonnaise, the photo-sensitive side of photographic film, and cutting fluid for metal working.

These leather chemicals provide various uses to many chemical industries. Surfactant as wetting agent can be used as detergent by various chemical industries which are specialized in leather products. A detergent may include variety of emulsifiers like in case of dhiren chemicals. These chemicals can be used for cleaning of textiles, personal care, food, metalworking, and also in pharmaceutical industries.