noun
surface-active agent; surfactant
Technical term in chemistry and related fields; synonymous with 界面活性剤 (かいめんかっせいざい), which is more common.
See also: 界面活性剤
この洗剤には表面活性剤が含まれている。
This detergent contains a surfactant.
More common synonym; 表面活性剤 is less frequent but refers to the same class of compounds.
Compound of 表面 (ひょうめん, 'surface'), 活性 (かっせい, 'activity'), and 剤 (ざい, 'agent').