Study on the Synthesis and Surface Active Properties of a Novel Surfactant with Triple Quaternary Ammonium Groups and Triple Dodecyl Chains Derived from Glycerin

Abstract

Abstract The new triple chain surfactant was firstly prepared by ring‐opening and a quaternization reaction with 2‐(chloromethyl)‐oxirane, tertiary amine and propane‐1,2,3‐triol as starting materials. The surfactant was characterized by MS and elementary analysis. Air–Liquid surface tension was measured by using a tensiometer at temperatures from 298 to 318 K respectively and in various salt solutions (NaX). The results show that with the increase of temperature, the values of critical micelle concentration (cmc) can achieve a minimum at 308 K. The maximum surface adsorption capacity Γ decreases, while the minimum molecule A min area increases. With the increase in temperature and the decrease in counterionic diameter, the values of cmc decrease from 8.09 × 10 −5 to 5.52 × 10 −5 mol/L, and the adsorption capacity Γ increase from 1.80 × 10 −10 to 2.74 × 10 −10 mol/m 2 , while there are almost no influences to surface tension (γ cmc ). The free energy of micelle formation is negative (−85.2 to −92.0 kJ/mol).