Syntheses and Properties of Isosorbide-based Cationic Gemini Surfactants

In this study, a cationic gemini surfactant was synthesized using isosorbide, in order to modify the alkyl chain length in the range of C-10 similar to C-16. The c.m.c and surface tension of the synthesized cationic gemini surfactant were measured to be in the ranges of 5.13 x 10(-4)similar to 1.62 x 10(-4) mol/L and 31.86 similar to 37.41 dyne/cm, respectively. The surface tension increased with increasing the length of the alkyl group. In addition, as the area per molecule occupied by the surfactant adsorbed on the interface increased with the reduced extent of adsorption, the bubble generation at the air-water interface decreased. The emulsifying capacity in benzene was maintained above 60 +/- 5% after 8 h while that in soybean oil tended to decrease above 50 +/- 5%. The performance was superior in benzene, a highly hydrophobic substance, and the emulsion stability was shown to be consistent beyond 1 h during the preparation of pre-emulsion in oil and water. The antimicrobial activity was dependent on the length of the hydrophobic chain of the synthesized cationic gemini surfactant due to the increased size of the clean zone in Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus.