Synthesis and Characterization of Biodegradable Cationic Esterquat Surfactants and the Evaluation of its Physico-Chemical Properties

Three biodegradable cationic esterquat surfactants such as 2-(dodecanoyloxy)-N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-N-(oxiran-2-ylmethyl)-ethane-1-ammonium chloride (II-a), 2-hydroxy-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-N-(oxiran-2-ylmethyl)-N-(2-(tetradecanoyloxy) ethyl) ethane-1-ammonium chloride (II-b) and 2-hydroxy-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-N-(oxiran-2-ylmethyl)-N-palmitoyloxy) ethyl) ethane-1-ammonium chloride (II-c) have been synthesized. The synthesis involves the esterification of three different fatty acids (lauric, myristic and palmitic) with triethanolamine followed by the quaternization with epichlorohydrin. The synthesized surfactants have been characterized by FT-IR, H-1 NMR, C-13 NMR, and elementary analysis. Physico-chemical properties such as surface tension and interfacial tension, Critical Micelle Concentration (CMC), wetting time, foam stability, and emulsion stability have been evaluated. Based on the results of the physico-chemical properties, the efficacy of the surfactants is in the following order II-c > II-b > II-a.