Synthesis and Interface Activity of a Series of Dicarboxylic Cationic Surfactants and a Structure-Efficiency Relationship Study

Quaternary ammonium cationic surfactants are widely used in many fields, but information about the effect of the anion on cationic surfactants is scarce. To study the effect of anions on the surface properties, six dicarboxylic cationic surfactants were prepared, (cetyltrimethylammonium oxalate, CTAO; cetyltrimethylammonium malonate, CTAM; cetyltrimethylammonium succinate, CTASU; cetyltrimethylammonium glutarate, CTAG; cetyltrimethylammonium adipate, CTAA; and cetyltrimethylammonium sebacate, CTASE), and their surface properties were studied, including surface tension, critical micelle concentration, foaming ability and stability, and corrosion inhibition. The results showed that the minimum surface tension followed the order of CTAOCTAM>CTASU>CTAG>CTAA>CTASE. The foaming stability followed the order of CTAM>CTAO>CTASU>CTAG>CTAA>CTASE. At a concentration of 1.0 g L-1, the order of emulsification power of these surfactants was CTASE<CTAO<CTAA<CTAG<CTASU<CTAM, and at 5.0 g L-1, the order was CTASE<CTASU<CTAA<CTAG<CTAO<CTAM. The corrosion inhibition efficiency on mild steel followed the order of CTASE<CTAA<CTAG<CTASU<CTAM<CTAO.