Synthesis and Self-Aggregation of a Hydroxyl-Functionalized Imidazolium-Based Ionic Liquid Surfactant in Aqueous Solution

This paper deals with the synthesis and self-aggregation of a hydroxyl-functionalized imidazolium-based ionic liquid (IL) surfactant, namely 1-hydroxyethyl-3-dodecylimidazolium chloride ([C₂OHC₁₂im]Cl). The molecular structure was confirmed by means of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI–MS), ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) and elemental analysis. Many important physicochemical parameters, such as the critical micelle concentration (CMC), the surface tension at CMC (γ_CMC), the adsorption efficiency (pC ₂₀), the surface pressure at CMC (Π_CMC), the maximum surface excess (Γ _m ), the minimum molecular cross-sectional area (A _min), the value of CMC/C ₂₀, the average number of aggregation (N _m ) and the micellar microenvironment polarity were determined by surface tension-concentration curves, fluorescence spectra, and electrical conductivity. The phenomena of the second CMC, the concentration dependence of N _m , and the critical average aggregation number (N _m,c) of imidazolium-based IL surfactants are reported for the first time in this paper.     

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} ).     

Synthesis,characterization, and surface properties of phenylalanine-glycerol ether surfactants

A novel homologous series of 1-N-l-phenylalanine-glycerol ether surfactants was synthesized in satisfactory yields via reaction of epichlorohydrin with aliphatic alcohols with alkyl chains of 10–15 carbon atoms. Structural assignment of the new compounds was made on the basis of elemental analysis and spectroscopic data. 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 (pC₂₀), and the interfacial area occupied by the surfactant molecules (A_min) were determined from aqueous surface tension measurements using the Wilhelmy plate technique.     

Undecanoic and 10-Undecenoic Acid-Based Amidobetaines and Amidoamine Oxides

Three types of undecanoic and 10-undecenoic acid-based surfactants were synthesized in the present work: amphoteric amidobetaines, cationic amidobetaine chlorides and nonionic amidoamine oxides. Structural characterizations of synthesized compounds were based on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) (¹H and ¹³C) and mass spectrometry. Surface properties, such as critical micelle concentration (CMC), surface tension at cmc (γ _cmc), efficiency of surface adsorption (pC20), surface excess (Γ_max) and minimum area per molecule (A _min) at the air–water interface, were determined by surface tension methods. Fluorescence probing techniques were also employed for the measurement of CMC, as well as steady state anisotropy (r) at the micellar core. The CMC of the studied surfactants follow the order: amidobetaine > amidobetaine chloride > amidoamine oxide. The influence of the terminal double bond in the hydrophobic alkyl chain on CMC was also assessed, and a significant increase in CMC was found due to the introduction of the double bond in the cases of amidobetaine chlorides and amidoamine oxides. These two types of surfactants showed higher rigidity at the micellar core compared to their corresponding unsaturated counterparts. However, such influence of unsaturation on the hydrophobic moiety was not observed in the case of amidobetaines. In all three types of surfactants, the saturated surfactant exhibited a lower γ _cmc and A _min, but higher Γ_max, r and pC20 compared to its unsaturated counterpart.     

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 and Properties of a Cationic Gemini Asphalt Emulsifier

A cationic Gemini surfactant with a benzene ring (abbreviated as C₁₄‐CGB) was synthesized in 2 steps with aniline, epichlorohydrin, and N,N‐dimethyltetradecylamine as starting materials. This product was characterized using mass spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR). The critical micelle concentration (CMC) and surface tension (γ_cmc) of C₁₄‐CGB were measured from 298 to 313 K and thermodynamic parameters of micellization were calculated. The results showed that the CMC and γ_cmc were 1.269 × 10^?3 mol L^?1 and 38.33 mN m^?1 at 298 K, respectively. Moreover, upon increasing the temperature, the CMC increases, γ_cmc decreases, the maximum surface adsorption capacity (Γ_max) decreases, and the minimum molecular area (A_min) increases. The emulsified asphalt test showed that C₁₄‐CGB is a slow‐breaking asphalt emulsifier exhibiting excellent emulsifying ability.     

Synthesis and Some Properties of Fluorinated Cationic Surfactants

Three fluorinated cationic surfactants were prepared by condensing N-methyl diethanol amine pentafluoro benzoate with stoichiometric amounts of octyl, dodecyl or hexadecyl bromide. The surface properties and parameters were investigated to find the relationship between the structures of the hydrophobic portion of such compounds. The properties studied include surface tension, critical micelle concentration (CMC), effectiveness (Π_cmc), maximum surface excess (Γ_max) and minimum surface area (A_min) were investigated with respect to different concentrations at 25 °C. Standard free energies of micellization and adsorption of the prepared surfactants in the aqueous solution were studied. The values of Γ_max, standard free energies of micellization \Updelta \textG_\textmic^\texto \Updelta {\text{G}}_{\text{mic}}^{\text{o}} and adsorption \Updelta \textG_\textads^\texto \Updelta {\text{G}}_{\text{ads}}^{\text{o}} were found to increase with the chain length, while the cmc and minimum surface area occupied by one molecule A_min were found to decrease. The biocidal activity was determined through the inhibition zone diameter of prepared compounds which were measured against five strains of a representative group of microorganisms.     

Synthesis and study of the surface properties of long-chain alkylnaphthalene sulfonates

Long-chain alkylnaphthalene sulfonates were synthesized by means of a Wurtz-Fittig reaction, and the basic properties were studied in water at 30°C. Through surface tension measurements, the following values were determined: the critical micelle concentration (CMC) and the surface tension at the CMC (γ_CMC). The following values were calculated: area per molecule at the CMC (A_CMC), standard free energy change of micellization (ΔG _mic ^o ), standard free energy of adsorption (ΔG _ad ^o ), and the “efficiency” of a surfactant in reducing surface tension (pC₂₀). The micelle aggregation numbers were measured through steady-state fluorescence-quenching methods. As the chain length of the hydrocarbon of n-alkylnaphthalene sulfonate increased, the Krafft temperature increased, the surface tension decreased, the value of CMC decreased, pC₂₀ increased, ΔG _ad ^o and ΔG _mic ^o became more negative, and the micelle aggregation number increased. The results showed that sodium α-(n-decyl)naphthalene sulfonate (DNS) had a high pC₂₀, low Krafft temperature, and lower CMC than other surfactants in this study. Thus, DNS and the other n-alkylnaphthalene surfactants studied exhibit desirable properties that may be of value in some fields such as detergency, oil recovery, and dyes.     

Surface activity and premicellar aggregation of some novel diquaternary gemini surfactants

A series of novel cationic gemini surfactants, C _n H _2n+1 N⁺(CH₃)₂CH₂CHOHCHOHCH₂N⁺(CH₃)₂C _n H _2n+1 ·2Br⁻, have been synthesized, and their surface properties were investigated in water, 0.1 N NaCl, and 0.1 N NaBr at 25°C. From surface tension-log molar concentration plots, the pC₂₀, critical micelle concentration (CMC), and γ_CMC values have been determined, and the area/molecule at the aqueous solution/air interface was calculated. When the number of carbon atoms in the alkyl (hydrophobic) chains is above a certain number, which depends upon the molecular environment, the surface activity of the compounds is less than expected. This appears to be due to formation of small, soluble aggregates below the CMC. Equilibrium constants calculated for this aggregation indicate that a series of oligomers are formed.     

Effects of Spacers on Surface Activities and Aggregation Properties of Anionic Gemini Surfactants

This present article employs four anionic Gemini surfactants with different spacer groups and investigates their physicochemical and aggregation properties. The critical micelle concentration (CMC), surface tension at CMC (γ_CMC) and C ₂₀ of these surfactants have been investigated using the du Nouy ring method. The aggregation number (N) was determined with intrinsic fluorescence quenching method using pyrene as a fluorescence probe and benzophenone as a quencher. Results show that these anionic Gemini surfactants have lower CMC and C ₂₀ values compared with those conventional ones and show higher surface activity. As expected, the spacer plays an important role in the aggregation properties of Gemini surfactants. Under experimental conditions, Gemini B–D with an alkoxylated group as spacer has a lower CMC and a higher aggregation number than Gemini A with methylene as spacer. For Gemini B–D, the CMC and aggregation number values decrease with the increasing flexible spacer length. The micropolarity also affects the aggregation of the present anionic Gemini surfactants. The micropolarity of micelle becomes low when the concentration of surfactants increases. Aggregation numbers of surfactants increase and fluorescence intensities decrease with the increasing concentration of NaCl. These results will help us to understand the relationship between the architectures of Gemini surfactants and their various properties in aqueous solution. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Surface properties of N-alkanoyl-N-methyl glucamines and related materials

The surface properties [effectiveness of surface tension reduction (γ_CMC) critical micelle concentration (CMC), efficiency of surface tension reduction (pC ₂₀), maximal surface excess concentration (Γ_max), minimal area/molecule at the interface (A _min), and the (CMC/C ₂₀) ratio] of some well-purified N-alkanoyl-N-methyl glucamines and related polyol-based N-methyl amide-type surfactants, having the structural formula RC(O)N(Me)CH₂(CHOH)_xCH₂OH, where RC(O)=undecanoyl, lauroyl, tridecanoyl, myristoyl, and x=1,3, and 4, were investigated at 25°C in distilled water and 0.1 M NaCl. Water solubility of these compounds does not simply depend on the number of hydroxyl groups in the molecule but is associated with the balance between intermolecular hydrogen bonds and hydrogen bonds formed with water molecules. The fundamental interfacial properties, such as CMC and γ_CMC and two thermodynamic parameters, standard free energy of adsorption and standard free energy of micellization, were found to be significantly dependent on the hydrophobic acyl chain rather than on the number of CHOH groups in the hydrophilic moieties. By contrast, the practical performance properties were greatly dependent on the nature of the hydrophilic group. As a whole, these surfactants had desirable foaming properties and efficient wetting abilities. Furthermore, synergism in foaming and wetting abilities was observed in a binary mixture of these surfactants with an alkyloxyethylene sulfate.     

Surface properties of linear alkyl benzene sulfonates in hard river water

Surface properties of a series of highly purified linear alkyl benzene sulfonates were extensively studied in hard river water. The effects of water hardness, alkyl chain length and position of the phenyl sulfonate group in the molecule on such surface properties as pC₂₀, critical micelle concentration (CMC), γ_CMC, CMC/C₂₀ ratio, and minimum area per molecule at the interface are discussed in detail. The position of phenyl sulfonate group in the molecule was found to have a pronounced effect on the CMC, γ_CMC value, CMC/C₂₀ ratio, and, to the contrary, a relatively small effect on the pC₂₀ value. The linear relationship between pC₂₀ or-log CMC, and m, the number of carbon atoms in the alkyl chain, was found for surfactants with the phenyl sulfonate group either at the terminal position or at the more central position in the molecule. γ_CMC decreases but the CMC value increases, when the position of phenyl sulfonate group moves from the terminal toward a more central position of the molecule, reflecting the “Hartley Effect” resulting from the branched alkyl chain.     

Synthesis and surface-active properties of trimeric-type anionic surfactants derived from tris(2-aminoethyl)amine

Trimeric-type anionic surfactants (3C_ntaAm, where n is a hydrocarbon chain length of 8, 10, or 12) with three hydrocarbon chains and three carboxylate headgroups were synthesized from tris(2-aminoethyl)amine, and their properties were investigated by surface tension, electrical conductivity, dynamic and static light-scattering, fluorescence of pyrene, and emulsification power techniques. The critical micelle concentrations (CMC) of 3C_ntaAm were 0.00092–0.00834 mmol dm⁻³, and the surface tensions at the CMC were 33.3–39.9 mN m⁻¹. The areas per molecule occupied by 3C₁₀taAm and 3C₁₂taAm were extremely small, showing they were highly compact at the air/water interface. In addition, adsorption or micellization behavior of 3C_ntaAm was estimated by parameters such as pC ₂₀ (the efficiency of surface adsorption), CMC/C ₂₀ (the ease of adsorption relative to the ease of micellization), and ΔG _M ^o (Gibbs energy of micellization). Dynamic and static light-scattering mesurements of 3C_ntaAm showed a hydrodynamic radius of 45–61 nm above the CMC and aggregation numbers of 10–82 at the CMC, respectively. The fluorescence intensity ratio of the first to the third band in the emission spectra of pyrene started to lower from far above the CMC for 3C₈taAm and 3C₁₀taAm, and below the CMC for 3C₁₂taAm. This suggests that loose micelles or premicellar aggregates are formed in solutions. Mixtures of aqueous solutions of 3C_ntaAm and toluene formed oil-in-water-type emulsions, and the stabilizing abilities were in the order of 3C₈taAm>3C₁₀taAm>3C₁₂taAm. The degree of emulsification of 3C₈taAm remained at 69% after 24 h of standing. Thus, 3C_ntaAm exhibited unique properties superior to monomeric or dimeric surfactants that were significantly influenced by their hydrocarbon chain lengths.     

Synthesis and Study of the Surface Properties of Alkylnaphthalene and Alkylphenanthrene Sulfonates

Some alkylnaphthalene and alkylphenanthrene sulfonates were synthesized by means of a Wurtz–Fittig reaction. The HLB values for the prepared compounds were calculated, and the basic properties were studied in water at different temperatures, namely, 25, 35 and 45 °C. Through surface tension measurements, the following values were determined: the critical micelle concentration (CMC) and the surface tension at the CMC (γ_CMC). The following values were calculated: area per molecule at the CMC (A_CMC), standard free energy change of micellization (ΔG _mic), standard free energy of adsorption (ΔG _ad), and the efficiency of a surfactant in reducing surface tension (pC20). Furthermore, the partition coefficients of the synthesized compounds were also measured. The results show that n-alkylnaphthalene and n-alkylphenanthrene surfactants studied exhibit desirable properties that may be of value in some fields such as detergency. To confirm the detergency power of the prepared surfactants, some foam studies were performed.     

Synthesis and surface properties of oxyethylenated 2-alkyl-5-hydroxymethyl-5-ethyl-1,3-dioxanes

In acid-catalyzed reactions of long chain aliphatic aldehydes (I) (R=n−C₇H₁₅; n−C₉H₁₉; n−C₁₁H₂₃) with 1,1,1-tris(hydroxymethyl)propane (II), 2-alkyl-5-hydroxymethyl-5-ethyl-1,3-dioxanes (III) were obtained. The latter were then reacted with ethylene oxide in the presence of sodium methoxide. Three series of oxyethylenated cyclic acetal derivatives (IV) were obtained. They constitute a new group of chemodegradable surfactants which readily hydrolyze and oxidize in natural water reservoirs. Physical data of the new compounds and some surface properties such as cloud points (Cp), critical micelle concentrations (cmc), changes of free energy of micellization, (ΔG°_cmc), surface tensions of aqueous solutions near cmc, γ_min, and wetting and foaming properties, were determined. The surfactants (IV) have aqueous solution properties similar to those of oxyethylenated longchain aliphatic alcohols. It is shown that the micellization of surfactants (IV), expressed in terms of ΔG°_cmc, depends both on the length of the aliphatic chain at the C-2 carbon atom and on the presence of ethyl group at C-5 of 1,3-dioxane ring which enhances the hydrophobic character of derivatives (III). Hence, the surfactants have a higher surface activity than oxyethylenated 2-alkyl-4-hydroxymethyl-1,3-dioxolanes or 2-alkyl-5,5-bis-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-dioxanes. The use of 2-alkyl-5-hydroxymethyl-5-ethyl-1,3-dioxanes (III) in surfactant synthesis is an example of applying hydrophobic intermediates obtained from aldehydes only. This, and the chemodegradability mentioned make the compounds a very interesting group of new surfactants. Part XVII in the series: Chemical Structure and Surface Activity.     

Surface active hydroxamic acids. II. Comparison of surface properties of hydroxamic acids with ketones and methyl esters with similar hydrophilic and lipophilic structure

Some surface properties of hydroxamic acids, ketones and methyl esters, which all contained long-chain alkyl[tetra-(oxyethylene)] group, were measured and compared to clarify the influence of the terminal functional group on surface properties. From the results of cloud point (T _cp ), CMC, γ _CMC , adsorption area per molecule at the surface (A) and foaming properties, it was proved that hydroxamic acids had better hydrophilicity and showed better surface properties than the corresponding ketones, methyl esters or typical monodisperse nonionic surfactants.     

Preparation,Surface-Active Properties and Antimicrobial Activities of Bis(Ester Quaternary Ammonium) Salts

New cationic surfactants, bis-quaternary ammonium salts, were prepared from N,N-dimethylaminoalkyl esters of saturated fatty acids and products of the reactions of epichlorohydrin with primary amines: pentyl-, hexyl- and octylamine. The bis (ester–ammonium) salts obtained were examined in respect to their surface-active properties: critical micelle concentration (CMC), effectiveness of surface tension reduction (γ_CMC), and adsorption efficiency (pC₂₀). All these surfactants showed good water solubility and low critical micelle concentrations of more than two orders of magnitude lower than these of corresponding mono-alkylammonium salts. They also showed good wetting capability, but worse foaming properties. All the surfactants tested were nontoxic to gram-negative bacteria, but some of them inhibited the growth of gram-positive bacteria and yeast.

The relationship of the environmental effect of surfactants to their interfacial properties

In an investigation of possible relationships between interfacial properties of surfactants and their environmental effect, using several anionic and nonionic surfactants, a linear correlation was found between the parameters, ΔG ⁰ _ad/A _min, and rotifer toxicity. ΔG ⁰ _ad is a standard free energy of adsorption at the air/aqueous solution interface, and A _min is the minimal hydrated cross-sectional area of the surfactant molecule. Both quantities were evaluated from surface tension data. This correlation is much better than attempted correlations of the toxicity with the negative logarithm of the critical micelle concentration (−log CMC) or with ΔG ⁰ _ad or A _min alone. The ΔG ⁰ _ad/A _min correlation with rotifer toxicity is also better than the correlation with the analogous parameter, Δ _s ^| G _ads ^0| A_min, obtained from adsorption isotherms of the surfactants on a solid immobilized membrane simulating a cell membrane. The data support our hypothesis that toxicity is determined both by adsorption tendency and ease of cell membrane penetration.     

Glucamine-based gemini surfactants I: Gemini surfactants from long-chain <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-alkyl glucamines and α,ω-diepoxides

N-Alkyl glucamines can be reacted with α,ω-diepoxides to yield gemini (dimeric) surfactants similarly to the reaction of glucamine with terminal epoxides. Under the conditions chosen for this work, epoxides were quantitatively converted in the presence of an equimolar amount of amine to gemini surfactants. Reactions could be carried out under mild conditions (70°C) in methanol, and products were obtained quantitatively by removing the solvent. The combination of N-octyl glucamine, N-decyl glucamine, or N-dodecyl glucamine with diepoxides of α,ω-diolefins having chain lengths of C₈, C₉, C₁₀, or C₁₄ resulted in gemini surfactants differing in spacer length and length of hydrophobic alkyl chains. Surface-active properties were studied by measuring surface tension and evaluating foaming properties. Tensiometric studies showed the reduction of surface tension down to 29–33 mN/m and critical micelle concentrations often in the range of 3–150 mg/L. Comparison of a selected gemini surfactant [1,8-bis(N-dodecyl glucamino-2,7-octane diol] with its corresponding “single surfactant” demonstrated the enhancement of surface-active properties afforded by the gemini structure.     

Preparation,surface-active properties,and antimicrobial activities of bis-quaternary ammonium salts from amines and epichlorohydrin

A series of new cationic surfactants, bis-quaternary ammonium salts, were prepared from tert-alkylamine and a product of the reaction of epichlorohydrin with decyl- and dodecylamine, and their surface-active properties were measured. Specifically, the critical micelle concentration (CMC), effectiveness of surface tension reduction (γ_CMC), surface excess concentration (Γ), area per molecule at the interface (A), and standard free energies of adsorption (ΔG _ads ^o) and of micellization (ΔG _mic ^o) were determined. All these surfactants showed good water solubility and low CMC, more than one order of magnitude lower than those of corresponding mono-alkylammonium salts. They also showed good foaming properties but worse wetting capabilities. Many of these compounds had antimicrobial activities against gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis) and yeast (Candida albicans), but they were not active against molds.