Effect of Polar Organic Solvents on Self‐Aggregation of Some Cationic Monomeric and Dimeric Surfactants

Surface and micellization behavior of some cationic monomeric surfactants, viz., cetyldiethylethanolammonium bromide (CDEEAB), cetyldimethylethanolammonium bromide (CDMEAB), tetradecyldiethylethanolammonium bromide (TDEEAB) and dimeric surfactants, i.e., alkanediyl‐α, ω‐bis(dimethylhexadecylammonium bromide) (C₁₆‐s‐C₁₆, 2Br^? where s = 4, 12), butanediyl‐1,4‐bis(dimethyldodecylammonium bromide (C₁₂‐4‐C₁₂, 2Br^?) and 2‐butanol‐1,4‐bis(dimethyldodecylammonium bromide) (C₁₂‐4(OH)‐C₁₂, 2Br^?), was studied in water‐organic solvents [10 and 20 % v/v ethylene glycol (EG) and diethylene glycol (DEG)] by conductivity, surface tension and steady‐state fluorescence methods at 300 K. The main focus of the present work is on the study of the effect of organic solvents on the critical micelle concentration (CMC), Gibbs free energy of micellization (ΔG°_m), Gibbs free energy of transfer (ΔG°_trans), Gibbs adsorption energy (ΔG°_ads) and some interfacial parameters such as the surface excess concentration (Γ_max), minimum area per surfactant molecule (A_min) and surface pressure (π_CMC). The aggregation number (N_agg) and Stern‐Volmer quenching constant (K_SV) were also determined by the steady‐state fluorescence method. It was observed that N_agg decreased with increasing volume percent of organic solvent. The results exhibited an increase in CMC in water‐organic solvents as compared to the respective surfactants in pure water. The negative values of ΔG°_m and ΔG°_ads indicate a spontaneous micellization process. The thermodynamics of micellization revealed that the micellization‐reducing efficiency of glycols increases with the concentration and the number of ethereal oxygens in the glycol.     

Synthesis and Surface Properties of Novel Gemini Imidazolium Surfactants

Five new Gemini imidazolium surfactants were synthesized from imidazole and 1-bromoalkane (C₈, C₁₀, C₁₂, C₁₄, C₁₆) to get 1-alkylimidazole, which was further reacted with 1,3-dichloropropan-2-ol to form the surfactant molecule, 1,1′-(propane-1,3-diyl-2-ol) bis(3-alkyl-1H-imidazol-3-ium) chloride. The structures of the five new surfactants and intermediates were characterized by ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR and IR spectra. Thermal properties of the five new surfactants were studied with thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry, the five new surfactants showed a transition from a crystalline phase to a thermotropic liquid–crystalline phase at around ca. 100 °C, which transformed to an isotropic liquid phase at around ca. 165 °C. The five new surfactants critical micelle concentrations (CMC) in the aqueous solutions were determined by surface tension and electrical conductivity methods. The surface tension measurements provided a series of parameters, including critical micelle concentration (CMC), surface tension at the CMC (γ _CMC), adsorption efficiency  (pC ₂₀), and effectiveness of surface tension reduction (π_CMC). In addition, with application of the Gibbs adsorption isotherm, maximum surface excess concentration (Γ_max) and minimum surface area/molecule (A_min) at the air–water interface were obtained. The parameters β (degree of counterion binding to micelles), ΔG _ads ^θ (Gibbs free energy of adsorption), and ΔG _mic ^θ (Gibbs free energy change of micellization) were also derived. The results indicated that the five new Gemini surfactants exhibited very low CMC and a good efficiency in lowering the surface tension of water. The foamability and foam stability of the five new surfactants were also examined at different CMC.     

Synthesis,Surface Activity,Thermodynamic Parameters,and Performance Evaluation of Branched Carboxylate Gemini Surfactants

Three novel carboxylate gemini surfactants (3C_ntaDA, n = 8, 10, and 12) were synthesized by two simple steps, and their structures were characterized using FT-IR and ¹H NMR. The surface activities of these surfactants were obtained from surface tension measurements at different temperatures, and the surface parameters containing the critical micelle concentration (CMC), surface tension (γ), minimum surface area per molecule ( A_min ), and maximum surface excess concentration ( Γ_max ) were obtained from surface tension measurements. The experimental results show that 3C_ntaDA surfactants have higher surface activities compared with the corresponding conventional surfactants. The thermodynamic parameters of the micellization process were investigated, and the calculated results show that it was an exothermic and spontaneous process. The emulsification and foam performance of these surfactants were also evaluated at different concentrations at 298.15 K.     

Synthesis, Surface and Thermodynamic Properties of Substituted Polytriethanolamine Nonionic Surfactants

Three series of nonionic surfactants derived from polytriethanolamine containing 8, 10, and 12 units of triethanolamine were synthesized. Structural assignment of the different compounds was made on the basis of FTIR and ¹H‐NMR spectroscopic data. The surface parameters of these surfactants included critical micelle concentration (CMC), surface tension at the CMC (γ_CMC), surfactant concentration required to reduce the surface tension of the solvent by 20 mN m^?1 (pC₂₀), maximum surface excess (Γ_max), and the interfacial area occupied by the surfactant molecules (A_min) using surface tension measurements. The micellization and adsorption free energies were calculated at 25 °C.     

Synthesis and Properties of Novel Alkyl Sulfonate Gemini Surfactants

A series of novel dialkyl disulfonate gemini surfactants (2C_n-SCT where n is the carbon number of the hydrophobic chain) were synthesized from cyanuric chloride, aliphatic amine and taurine. The chemical structures of the prepared compounds were confirmed by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, IR spectra, and ESI–MS. Their critical micelle concentrations (CMC) in the aqueous solutions at 25 °C were determined by surface tension and electrical conductivity methods. With the increasing length of the carbon chain, the values of their CMC initially decreased, and then increased with an alkyl chain length of 14. The surface tension measurements of 2C_n-SCT (except for n = 14) determined that there is a low CMC, a great efficiency in lowering the surface tension, and a strong adsorption at the air–water interface. In addition, adsorption and micellization behavior of 2C_n-SCT were estimated from pC ₂₀, the minimum average area per surfactant molecule (A _min), and standard free energy micellization and adsorption ( \Updelta G_\textmic^°  \textand \Updelta G_\textads^° \Updelta G_{\text{mic}}^{^\circ } \,{\text{and}}\,\Updelta G_{\text{ads}}^{^\circ } ). These properties are significantly influenced by the chain length n, and the adsorption is promoted more than the micellization.     

Synthesis, Surface Active Properties of Novel Gemini Surfactants with Amide Groups and Rigid Spacers

A series of novel cationic gemini surfactants, bis-(N-(3-alkylamido-propyl)-N,N-dimethyl)-p-phenylenediammonium dichloride, were synthesized. The structures of the gemini surfactants were characterized by IR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR. The Krafft temperatures of surfactants were determined through conductivity, the surface active properties in aqueous solution were studied at various temperatures by surface tension and conductivity. The thermodynamic functions of micellization process of the surfactants were also calculated by conductivity. The Krafft temperatures of the surfactants were 12, 13 and 28 °C. The values of CMC and Γ _max decreased with increasing the length of hydrophobic chains, but the values of CMC and α increased with increasing temperature. The process of micellization is a spontaneous, exothermic and entropy-driven process.     

Synthesis, Surface, Thermodynamic Properties of Some Biodegradable Vanillin-Modified Polyoxyethylene Surfactants

Four water-soluble non-ionic ethoxylated surfactants based on vanillin were synthesized (VE₁₅, VE₂₀, VE₄₀, and VE₆₀). The chemical structures of these surfactants were confirmed using FT-IR and ¹H-NMR spectra. The molecular weights of the compounds were determined using viscosity measurements and gel permeation chromatography. Surface tension as a function of the concentration of the surfactant in aqueous solution was measured at 25, 40 and 55?°C. From these measurements, the critical micelle concentration (CMC), effectiveness (??_cmc), efficiency (pC₂₀), maximum surface (??_max) excess and minimum surface area (A _min), were calculated. The surface activity measurements showed their high tendency towards adsorption and micellization and their good surface tension reduction, and low interfacial tension. The emulsion stability measurements showed the applicability of these surfactants as emulsifying agents. The thermodynamic parameters of micellization (??G _mic, ??H _mic, ??S _mic) and adsorption (??G _ads, ??G _ads, ?S _ads) showed their tendency towards adsorption at the interfaces and also micellization in the bulk of their solutions. The biodegradability of the prepared surfactants was tested in river water using die-away method and showed their readily biodegradation in the open environment.     

Synthesis,Characterization, Surface and Biological Activity of Diquaternary Cationic Surfactants Containing Ester Linkage

Two series of diquaternary cationic surfactants designated as E9Nm and E11Nm having two different alkyl chains in their chemical structure were synthesized. The chemical structures of these surfactants were confirmed using elemental analysis, FTIR and ¹H‐NMR spectra. The surface activities of the different surfactants were determined using surface and interfacial tension at 25 °C. The surface parameters including: critical micelle concentration, effectiveness, efficiency, maximum surface excess and minimum surface area were determined. The surface activities of the cationic surfactants were correlated with their chemical structure. The surface activities of the surfactants increased with increasing the hydrophobic chain length. The adsorption and micellization tendencies of the surfactants in solution were determined using the free energies of adsorption and micellization. The synthesized surfactants were evaluated as biocides against bacteria and fungi. Biocidal activity data showed that a gradual increase in the hydrophobic chain length of the surfactant molecules gradually increases the efficiency of these surfactants as biocides.     

Polymeric surfactants for enhanced oil recovery. IV—Thermodynamic properties of ethoxylated alkylphenol formaldehyde polymeric surfactants

The thermodynamic properties of some low molecular weight ethoxylated alkylphenol formaldehyde polymeric surfactants have been investigated. Surface tension as a function of concentration of the surfactants in aqueous solutions was measured at 28, 38, 48 and 58°C, using the spinning drop technique. From these measurements, the minimum area per molecule at the aqueous solution/air interface (A_min) was determined. The thermodynamic parameters of micellization (ΔG_mic, ΔH_mic, ΔS_mic) and of adsorption (ΔG_ad, ΔH_ad, ΔS_ad) for these polymeric nonionics were calculated. Micellization is more sensitive to ethylene oxide chain length while adsorption is more dependent on the length of the alkyl chain.     

Synthesis and Properties of Novel Phenylenediamine Gemini Surfactants

In the present work, a two-step method was adopted to synthesize a series of novel Gemini surfactants using N,N-dimethylalkyl amines (alkyl length = C₁₂, C₁₆ and C₁₈), epichlorohydrin, and n-phenyllenediamine as starting materials. The products were characterized using mass spectroscopy (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H NMR). Systematic experiments were conducted to evaluate their surface activity, foaming properties, and antibacterial performance. Results showed the critical micelle concentrations (CMC) of the C₁₂-based, C₁₆-based, and C₁₈-based phenylenediamine surfactants were 3.295 × 10⁻³, 2.532 × 10⁻⁴, and 3.140 × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹ at 298 K, respectively, with corresponding surface tension (γ_cmc) values of 28.24, 31.95, and 35.06 mN m⁻¹ under the same conditions. The Gemini surfactants showed not only good surface activity and foaming properties, but also demonstrated good antimicrobial performance against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi.     

Synthesis, Antimicrobial Activity and Micellization of Gemini Anionic Surfactants in a Pure State as Well as Mixed With a Conventional Nonionic Surfactant

New gemini anionic surfactants were prepared from sodium salts of monoalkyl sulfosuccinate esters of ethylene glycol having variably long tails (C₁₂, C₁₆, C₁₈) and dichloroethane. The chemical structures of the prepared surfactants were confirmed using different spectroscopic techniques. The surfaces tension values of the synthesized surfactants were measured at 25 °C individually or mixing at different molar fractions with ethoxylated alkylphenol. In all cases, mixed micellar aggregates were formed and critical micellar concentrations of binary mixtures containing different mole fractions of the surfactants were measured. The micellization processes of the individual and mixed surfactants were investigated. The effect of different alkyl chains of gemini anionic surfactants on properties of binary systems and molar ratio in the mixed aggregates were deduced. The critical micelle concentration of mixed surfactants shifted to lower values compared to those of the single surfactants. Effectiveness values increased with decreases in the mole fraction of gemini anionic surfactants. The negative values of interaction parameter (β) increased with increases in the chain length of anionic surfactants. The activity coefficient (f ₁, f ₂) and total minimum surface area of mixed solution were calculated. Also, the gemini anionic surfactants prepared have moderate antimicrobial activity towards bacteria and not active towards fungi.     

Micellization Behavior of Cationic Gemini Surfactants in Aqueous-Ethylene Glycol Solution

The micellization behavior of gemini surfactants i.e. alkanediyl-α,ω-bis(cetyldimethylammonium bromide) (C₁₆-s-C₁₆,2Br⁻ where s = 3, 4, 10) in 10% (v/v) ethylene glycol solution was investigated by surface tension and conductometric measurements at 300 K. The critical micelle concentration, degree of micellar ionization, surface excess concentration, minimum surface area per molecule of surfactant, surface pressure at the CMC and Gibbs energy of adsorption of the dimeric surfactants have also been determined in the presence of different salts (NaCl, NaBr and NaI). The critical micelle concentration and degree of micellar ionization values decrease significantly in the presence of sodium halides and follows the sequence NaCl < NaBr < NaI. The free energy, enthalpy and entropy of micellization of dimeric surfactants in 10% (v/v) ethylene glycol solution were determined using the temperature dependence of the critical micelle concentration. The standard free energy of micellization was found to be negative in all the cases.     

Influence of Spacer Nature on the Aggregation Properties of Anionic Gemini Surfactants in Aqueous Solutions

A series of anionic gemini surfactants with the same structure except the spacer nature have been studied. Their solution properties were characterized by the equilibrium surface tension and intrinsic fluorescence quenching method. The critical micelle concentrations (CMC), surface tension at cmc, C₂₀, and the micelle aggregation number (N) were obtained. The surface tension measurements indicate that these gemini surfactants have much lower cmc values and great efficiency in lowering the surface tension of water compared with those of conventional monomeric surfactants. Furthermore, the standard free energy of micellization for anionic gemini surfactants was also determined. The results showed that the nature of the spacer has an important effect on the aggregation properties of gemini surfactants in aqueous solutions. The surfactant with a hydrophilic, flexible spacer was more readily able to form micelle compared with the surfactant with a hydrophobic, rigid spacer, which leads to a lower CMC value, larger N, more negative free energy of micellization, and a more closely packed micelle structure.     

The Effects of Amide Bonds and Aromatic Rings on the Surface Properties and Antimicrobial Activity of Cationic Surfactants

The cationic surfactants containing aromatic rings and amide bonds, N,N-dimethyl-N-dodecyl-2-pyrimidinylcarbamoylmethyl ammonium chloride ( a ), N,N-dimethyl-N-dodecyl-2-thiazolylcarbamoylmethyl ammonium chloride ( b ), and N,N-dimethyl-N-dodecyl-phenylcarbamoylmethyl ammonium chloride ( c ), were synthesized and characterized. The surface tension and conductivity values were employed to investigate the absorption and micellization behavior of the three cationic surfactants. The results showed that the synthesized surfactants have shown a low critical micelle concentration (CMC) and a high adsorption efficiency (pC₂₀) compared with the traditional cationic surfactant of N,N-dimethyl-N-dodecyl-N-benzyl ammonium chloride ( BAC-12 ). The aromatic rings of the a , b , and c molecular structures were analyzed using the ¹H NMR spectra for electrostatic repulsion effects between hydrophilic headgroups. The size distribution of the micelles was derived using dynamic light scattering (DLS) techniques. In addition, the foaming ability of a , b , c , and BAC-12 was investigated and the antimicrobial activity of a , b , c , and BAC-12 against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis was examined. The effects of amide bonds and aromatic rings on the surface properties and antimicrobial activity of a , b , and c were analyzed and compared with BAC-12 of the same alkyl chain length. The synthesized surfactants exhibited a high surface ability and better antibacterial activity compared with BAC-12 .     

Synthesis and Surface Tension Study of the Spacer Chain Length Effect on the Adsorption and Micellization Properties of a New Kind of Carboxylate Gemini Surfactant

A series of carboxylate gemini surfactants, which contain two hydrocarbon chains linked by amide groups, two carboxylate groups, a flexible alkane spacer were synthesized by three-step reactions and named alkylidene–bis-(N,N′-dodecyl-carboxypropylamides) (2C₁₂H₂₅CnAm; n = 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 is the number of methylene groups of the spacer), their structures were confirmed by FTIR,¹H NMR, and LC–MS/TOF, and their purity checked by HPLC. The micellar properties with increasing spacer chain length of these gemini surfactants were determined by surface tension methods. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) varies slightly with spacer chain length; surface tension at CMC(γ_CMC), the tendency of micellization versus adsorption, CMC/C₂₀, the minimum area per surfactant molecule at the air/solution interface (A_CMC), all decrease with increasing spacer chain length; surface reduction efficiency, pC₂₀, the surface excess at the air/solution interface (Г_CMC) increase with increasing spacer chain length. The results probably indicate that increasing spacer chain length of these carboxylate gemini surfactants will increase spacer incorporation into the double hydrophobic chain.     

Synthesis and Physico-Chemical Properties of Sodium 3-Oxo-2-(3-(4-sulphonatophenyl)triaz-2-enyl)octadecanoate Anionic Surfactant

The novel anionic surfactant sodium 3‐oxo‐2‐(3‐(4‐sulphonatophenyl)triaz‐2‐enyl)octadecanoate (SSTO) was prepared from renewable raw materials; glycine and palmitic acid. Surface and bulk properties of SSTO were investigated by surface tension and electrical conductivity techniques at 298, 308, 318 and 328 K. Surface properties including critical micelle concentration (CMC), maximum surface excess concentration (Γ_max), minimum area per molecule (A_min), surface tension at CMC (γ_CMC), effectiveness of surface tension reduction (Π_CMC), efficiency of surface adsorption (pC₂₀), and degree of counterion dissociation (α) were determined. The thermodynamic parameters of micellization (ΔG°_mic, ΔH°_mic and ΔS°_mic) and adsorption (ΔG°_ad, ΔH°_ad and ΔS°_ad) were also investigated at 298, 308, 318 and 328 K. The effect of 3 wt% n‐propanol, n‐butanol and n‐pentanol on surface tension and conductivity at 298 K was also determined.     

A Novel Alkyl Sulphobetaine Gemini Surfactant Based on S‐triazine: Synthesis and Properties

A series of alkyl sulphobetaine Gemini surfactants C_n‐GSBS (n = 8, 10, 12, 14, 16) was synthesized, using aliphatic amine, cyanuric chloride, ethylenediamine, N,N′‐dimethyl‐1,3‐propyldiamine and sodium 2‐chloroethane sulfonate as main raw materials. The chemical structures were confirmed by FT‐IR, ¹H NMR and elemental analysis. The Krafft points differ markedly with different carbon chain length, for C₈‐GSBS, C₁₀‐GSBS and C₁₂‐GSBS are considered to be below 0 °C and C₁₄‐GSBS, C₁₆‐GSBS are higher than 0 °C but lower than room temperature. Surface‐active properties were studied by surface tension and electrical conductivity. Critical micelle concentrations were much lower than dodecyl sulphobetaine (BS‐12) and decreased with increasing length of the carbon chain from 8 to 16, and can reach a minimum as low as 5 × 10^?5 mol L^?1 for C₁₆‐GSBS. Effects of carbon chain length and concentration of C_n‐GSBS on crude oil emulsion stability were also investigated and discussed.     

A Comprehensive Study on the Synthesis and Micellization of Disymmetric Gemini Imidazolium Surfactants

Two groups of disymmetric Gemini imidazolium surfactants, [C₁₄C₄C _m im]Br₂ (m = 10, 12, 14) and [C _m C₄C _n im]Br₂ (m + n = 24, m = 12, 14, 16, 18) surfactants, were synthesized and their structures were confirmed by ¹H NMR and ESI–MS spectroscopy. Their adsorption at the air/water interface, thermodynamic parameters and aggregation behavior were explored by means of surface tension, electrical conductivity and steady-state fluorescence. A series of surface activity parameters, including cmc, γ _cmc, π _cmc, pC ₂₀, cmc/C ₂₀, Γ _max and A _min, were obtained from surface tension measurements. The results revealed that the overall hydrophobic chain length (N _c) for [C₁₄C₄C _m im]Br₂ and the disymmetry (m/n) for [C _m C₄C _n im]Br₂ had a significant effect on the surface activity. The cmc values decreased with an increase of N _c or m/n. The thermodynamic parameters of micellization (ΔG _m ^θ , ΔH _m ^θ , ΔS _m ^θ ) derived from the electrical conductivity indicated that the micellization process of [C₁₄C₄C _m im]Br₂ and [C _m C₄C _n im]Br₂ was entropy-driven at different temperatures, but the contribution of ΔH _m ^θ to ΔG _m ^θ was enhanced by increasing N _c or m/n. The micropolarity and micellar aggregation number (N _agg) were estimated by steady-state fluorescence measurements. The results showed that the surfactant with higher N _c or m/n can form larger micelles, due to a tighter micellar structure.     

Preparation of a New Oligomeric Surfactant: N,N,N′,N″,N″-Pentamethyl Diethyleneamine—N,N″-Di-[Tetradecylammonium Bromide] and the Study of its Thermodynamic Properties

A new oligomeric surfactant: N,N,N′,N″,N″- pentamethyl diethyleneamine—N,N″-di-[tetradecylammonium bromide] referred to as 14-2-N(CH₃)-2-14 was synthesized, purified and characterized by Elemental Analysis, ¹H and ¹³C NMR and Electrospray. The micellar properties of this compound were determined by electrical conductivity and surface tension methods. Optical microscopy was also employed to study the behavior of anhydrous surfactant and the binary water/surfactant system as a function of temperature. The critical micellar concentration (cmc), degree of counterion binding and thermodynamic parameters of micellization (standard molar Gibbs energy, enthalpy and entropy of micellization) were determined by electrical conductivity measurements in the temperature range [24–54 °C]. Surface tension measurements also provide information about the dependence of the surface tension at the cmc (γ_cmc), pC₂₀ (negative logarithm of the surfactant’s molar concentration C₂₀, required to reduce the surface tension by 20 mN/m, the surface excess (Γ_max) at air/solution interface, the minimum area per surfactant molecule at the air/solution interface (Amin), surface pressure at the cmc (П_cmc), critical packing parameter(CPP) and the standard free energies of micellization ( \Updelta G_m⁰\Updelta G_{m}^{0}) and of adsorption ( \Updelta G_\textads⁰ \Updelta G_{\text{ads}}^{0} ).     

Ferrocene-Based Cationic Surfactants: Surface and Antimicrobial Properties

A novel series of ferrocenyl surfactants was synthesized by the reaction of ferrocene disulfonic acid with different primary and tertiary fatty amines to produce the corresponding ammonium salts Fc[SO₃ ^{− +}NH₃(CH₂) _n CH₃]₂, where n = 9, 11, or 15 and Fc[SO₃^{− +}NH(CH₃)₂(CH₂) _n CH₃]₂, where n = 7 or 11, respectively, and where Fc = ferrocene. Chemical structures were confirmed by microelemental analysis, FTIR, and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The critical micelle concentration of each prepared surfactant was determined using equilibrium surface tension. Furthermore, air/water interface parameters including effectiveness (π _CMC), efficiency (Pc₂₀), maximum surface excess (Г_max), and minimum surface area (A _min) were determined at 30, 40, and 50 °C. Thermodynamic parameters (ΔG°, ΔS°, and ΔH°) for both micellization and adsorption processes were recorded. The new synthesized surfactants were screened as antimicrobial agents against different bacterial and fungal organisms.