Synthesis and characterization of imidazolinium surfactants derived from tallow fatty acids and diethylenetriamine

This paper describes the synthesis of long-chain dialkylamido imidazolines based on tallow fatty acids and diethylenetriamine, followed by their quaternization. Imidazolines were obtained by non-solvent microwave synthesis using, calcium oxide as support, which were then quaternized by using dimethyl sulfate as a quaternizing agent and iso-propanol as a solvent, to produce cationic imidazolinium salts. The synthesized cationic imidazoline surfactants were evaluated for yield and cationic content. The instrumental techniques, viz. FT-IR and H-1-NMR. verified the formation of imidazolines and their Subsequent quaternization. The surface-active and performance properties of the cationic imidazolines in terms of critical micelle concentration, surface tension, dispersibility, emulsion stability, softening, rewettability and antistatic properties were also reported.