Preparation and Properties of Bis(sodium sulfate) Types of Cleavable Surfactants Derived from Diethyl Tartrate

Abstract

Bis(sodium sulfate) surfactants each bearing two alkyl groups were easily prepared by the acid-catalyzed transesterification of diethyl tartrate with fatty alcohols (octyl, decyl, or dodecyl) and subsequent sulfation with sulfamic acid without any expensive reagents and special equipment. These surfactants had better water-solubility, smaller critical micelle concentration (cmc) and lower surface tension at cmc compared to sodium dodecylsulfate and sodium tetradecylsulfate. These surfactants bearing octyl or decyl chains had low-foaming properties and good solubility in hard water. They decomposed easily into nonsurface-active species under acidic or alkaline conditions. Their biodegradabilities were almost the same as that of sodium dodecanoate.