Dr. John Scamehorn is a leading expert in the application of surfactant science to consumer product formulation. He has specialized in surfactant science and technology since 1977. Products in which he has been involved include laundry detergents, hand dishwashing formulations, hard surface cleaners, bar soaps, toothpastes, and automatic dishwashing formulations. He has published nearly 200 archival papers or book chapters, edited five books, and coauthored 18 US patents (many of which are available on our Resources page). Specific phenomena in which he is a recognized expert include detergency mechanisms, surfactant mixture synergisms, surfactant precipitation, adsorption, foaming, micelle formation, solubilization, wetting, and microemulsion formation. He is also a leader in the technological application of surfactant-based separations, an area he has pioneered as a subfield of chemical engineering separations.

Dr. Scamehorn received his BSChE and MS in chemical engineering from the University of Nebraska and his PhD in chemical engineering from the University of Texas. He has worked as a research engineer for Shell, Conoco, and DuPont. In 1981, he joined the Chemical Engineering faculty at the University of Oklahoma (OU) where he ultimately held the Asahi Glass Chair. He was a founding member, Associate Director, and Director of the Institute for Applied Surfactant Research at OU and is currently emeritus Director. In 2007, he chose to become emeritus faculty at OU and has continued to perform contract research and teach short courses for industry. He continues to coordinate the program between OU and The Petroleum and Petrochemical College at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, where he spends two months a year teaching and supervising student research. He has been particularly active professionally in the American Oil Chemists’ Society with many positions in the Surfactants and Detergents division, ultimately being Division Chair in 2003. In 2010, he received the Distinguished Service award from the Division.

Dr. Scamehorn has applied the philosophy of developing solid theoretical advances in surfactant science and applying this knowledge to solve industrial problems and develop new products. He has performed contract research, consulted on problems, and taught short courses for many of the leading formulators and suppliers of surfactants. He is co-founder and Vice President of Surfactant Associates, Inc. founded in 1987 and began the Short Course in Applied Surfactant Science and Technology in 1989 which he has taught over 100 times to companies around the world.