A novel cationic Gemini surfactant with amide group: synthesis and micellization behavior in aqueous solutions

Synthesis of a castor oil-based quaternary ammonium surfactant and its application in the modification of attapulgite

Castor oil-based quaternary ammonium surfactant (COQA) was synthesized by an ester-exchange reaction of refined castor oil (CO) (raw material) with N,N-dimethyl ethanol amine followed by quaternization with epichlorohydrin (ECH). Its surface activity and structural features were determined. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the surfactant at 25 °C was 1.79 × 10−3 mol/L. The surface tension of an aqueous COQA solution at CMC was 38.19 mN/m. Subsequently, the synthesized COQA was used to modify attapulgite (ATP) by binding it to the surface of ATP. The change in the morphology of the modified-ATP (M-ATP) was attributed to the presence of the COQA bound to the surface of the rod-shaped crystals, although the crystal structure of the silicate did not change. Compared to ATP, the microstructure of the M-ATP was less rigid.

Influence of Inorganic Salts and pH on Surface Activity of Biodegradable Amido Gemini Amine Oxide Surfactant

The present study was designed to provide information regarding the influences of pH and inorganic salts on the surface activity of the amido Gemini amine oxide surfactants, the formula of which was C _n H_{2 n +1}CONH(CH₂)₂N⁺O^-(CH₃)-(CH₂)₂-(CH₃)N⁺O^-(CH₂)₂NHCOC _n H_{2 n +1} (n=11, 13, 15, and 17). Their biodegradability was also investigated. The results showed that the critical micelle concentration (CMC) and the corresponding surface tension (γ_CMC) changed regularly with the increase of the mass concentration of NaCl and CaCl₂. The optimal CMC and γ_CMC can be obtained by adjusting the inorganic salt content. Besides, the CMC near the isoelectric point of the surfactant is higher than the CMC within the isoelectric point. Furthermore, the biodegradability test revealed that the prepared surfactants had good biodegradability which was above 96% after 7 days.

Thermodynamic and Interfacial Properties of Cationic Gemini Surfactant in the Presence of Alcohols

The micellar properties of the cationic Gemini surfactant ethanediyl-1,2-bis(dimethyldodecyl ammonium bromide), C12H25 · (CH3)2N+–(CH2)2–N+(CH3)2C12H25 · 2Br− (12-2-12), with short chain alcohols have been studied by conductivity and surface tension measurements within the temperature range 293.15 K–313.15 K and alcohol percentage. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) of 12-2-12 solution, degree of ionization (α) and standard Gibbs free energy of micellization (ΔG°m), standard enthalpy of micellization (ΔH°m) were calculated from conductivity and surface tension data. The experimental data show that the CMC values of cationic Gemini surfactants increased with addition of methanol, ethanol and n-propanol. The thermodynamic parameters (ΔG°m), (ΔH°m) and (ΔS°m) of micellization of 12-2-12 in alcohol were also calculated from the temperature dependence of the CMC values. CMC, (α), (ΔH°m) and (ΔS°m) increased linearly with increasing temperature. In the mixture of dimeric cationic surfactant (12-2-12) and alcohol solutions, the CMC values showed a slight increase with increasing alcohol concentration. CMC, maximum surface excess concentration at the solution/air interface, Γmax, minimum area per surfactant molecule, Amin, and the surface pressure at CMC, ¶CMC, values calculated from the surface tension measurements and thermodynamic parameters have been evaluated at same temperatures.

Aqueous solution behaviour and solubilisation properties of octadecyl cationic gemini surfactants and their comparison with their amide gemini analogues

Gemini surfactants 18-s-18(Et), comprised of two ethylammonium headgroups and two alkyl tails with m = 18 carbon atoms with spacers of s = 4, 6, 8 and 10 linking the headgroups (alkanediyl-α,ω-bis(diethyloctadecylammonium bromides)), were obtained. Their aqueous solution behaviour, including adsorption at the interface and aggregation in solution, was followed by tensiometric, conductometric and spectroscopic methods. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the surfactants decreased with increasing spacer length. The size of 18-s-18(Et) aggregates formed at concentrations of 10 and 40 CMC measured by DLS varied with the elongation of the spacer. Visualisation of aggregated surfactant structures at 40 CMC by cryo-TEM evidenced the formation of different morphologies depending on spacer length. Gemini with s = 4 formed elongated, cylindrical micelles, while geminis of s = 6, 8 and 10 self-assembled into vesicles. The ability of the studied geminis to solubilise hydrophobic dye Sudan I in water was determined as a function of surfactant concentration, demonstrating their high efficiency. Results for 18-s-18(Et) geminis were compared with those previously obtained for their analogues containing an amide group placed between headgroups and tails. The significant impact of amide groups on the surface activity and aggregation properties of gemini surfactants was evidenced and is related to hydrogen-bond formation by amide-containing compounds.