Novel Non-ionic Gemini Surfactants from Fatty Acid and Diethanolamine: Synthesis, Surface-Active Properties and Anticorrosion Study

Series of novel non-ionic Gemini surfactant was prepared in two steps. Initially diethanolamine was converted into amide by using fatty acids viz. lauric acid, palmitic acid, myristic acid and stearic acid and corresponding prepared amide reacted with 1,6-dibromohexane to form the non-ionic Gemini surfactants. The formation of the targeted molecule was monitored and confirmed using FTIR, H-1-NMR and C-13-NMR spectroscopy. The effect of alkyl chain length of synthesized surfactants on the basic characteristics such as surface tension, foaming, emulsifying capability, lime soap dispersing power and wetting were studied. These new surfactants were investigated for their anticorrosion and biological properties. They have capacity to reduce surface tension of water from 71.8 to 25.44 mN m(-1). All the Gemini surfactants possessed good antimicrobial activity against gram positive Bacteria Bacillis subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus. The N,N-bis(hydroxyethyl)octadecanamide based Gemini surfactant have 94.11% corrosion inhibition efficiency against carbon steel. They have low biodegradability. [GRAPHICS] .