Detergents are a class of molecules involved in the breakdown of phospholipids, the major lipid component of most cellular membranes. The best way to keep phospholipids apart is to solubilize them.
Phospholipids are usually composed of two fatty acid chains which are esterified to two of the carbons of glycerol phosphate, the phosphate being esterified to a hydroxyl group of another hydrophilic compound, such as choline, ethanolamine or serine.