Aggregation properties of supralong-chain surfactants with double or triple quaternary ammonium head groups

Double or triple quaternary ammonium head groups were designed to improve the solubility of supralong alkyl chain surfactants. In the surfactant head group, quaternary ammonium groups are connected by an ethylene spacer. Micellar shapes of divalent surfactants [C(n)H(2n)(+1)N(+)(CH(3))(2)-(CH(2))(2)-N(+)(CH(3))(3) 2Br(-): C(n)-2Am (n=18, 20, and 22)] and trivalent surfactants [C(n)H(2n)(+1)N(+)(CH(3))(2)-(CH(2))(2)-N(+)(CH(3))(2)-(CH(2))(2)-N(+)(CH(3))(3) 3Br(-): C(n)-3Am (n=18, 20, and 22)] were studied in aqueous solutions by means of dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Changes in the surfactant concentration have a small influence on the apparent hydrodynamic radii (r(h)) of the molecular aggregates in both surfactant series. Average values of r(h) of aggregates are 60-90 nm for C(n)-2Am (n=18, 20, and 22) and 2-40 nm for C(n)-3Am (n=18, 20, and 22). TEM micrographs showed that aggregates of C(n)-2Am (n=18, 20, and 22) typically formed rod-like micelles. In contrast, trivalent surfactants of C(n)-3Am (n=18, 20, and 22) formed spherical (C(18)-3Am) or ellipsoidal micelles (C(20)-3Am and C(22)-3Am). Moreover, the degree of micellar counterion binding for these surfactants was determined by using a bromide ion-selective electrode, which indicated relatively high values (0.8-0.9) for C(n)-2Am (n=18, 20, and 22) and more common values (0.5-0.8) for C(n)-3Am (n=18, 20, and 22). The size of the aggregates is closely related to the degree of counterion binding.     

Shamrock surfactants with terminal carboxylate headgroups and a central phosphorodithioate or quaternary ammonium headgroup

Surfactants 3 (tripotassium O,O'-di-[11-(carboxylato)undecyl]phosphorodithioate) and 4 (sodium 12-[dimethyl-(11-carboxylatoundecyl)ammonio]dodecanoate), which are new shamrock surfactants, were prepared and characterized. Shamrock surfactants represent a novel class of surfactants that contain a central headgroup connected to two flanking headgroups by hydrocarbon chains; they do not contain long-chain alkyl groups. Surfactants 3 and 4 were characterized in water by measurement of their Krafft temperatures and critical aggregation concentrations, and their aggregates were studied by 1H and 31P NMR spectroscopy, dynamic laser light scattering, and phase-contrast optical microscopy. Aqueous 3 and 4 were also studied by cryoetch high-resolution scanning electron microscopy, which revealed fences with interposed lacelike patterns for the former and compartments formed by irregular fences for the latter. Coacervates were likely formed upon the undisturbed hydration of 3 and 4, as determined by phase-contrast optical microscopy.     

Aggregation behavior of nitrophenoxy-tailed quaternary ammonium surfactants

Cationic surfactants N,N,N-trimethyl-10-(4-nitrophenoxy)decylammonium bromide (N10TAB) and N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-N,N'-bis[10-(4-nitrophenoxy)decyl]-1,6-hexanediammonium dibromide (N10-6-10N), bearing aromatic nitrophenoxy groups in the ends of their hydrophobic chains, have been synthesized, and their self-assembling properties in aqueous solutions have been studied by conductivity, isothermal titration microcalorimetry, 1H NMR spectroscopy, and dynamic light scattering. Below the critical micelle concentration, N10-6-10N can form premicelles with 2 or 3 surfactant molecules. Beyond the critical micelle concentration, the two surfactants have strong self-aggregation ability and can form micelles of rather small size and with small aggregation numbers N, which are 30 +/- 3 for N10TAB and 20 +/- 2 for N10-6-10N, respectively. Also, the variations in 1H NMR signals at different surfactant concentrations provide the information on the environmental change of the surfactants upon their micellization progress. The most prominent phenomenon is the shielding effect of the aromatic groups over the protons in the aliphatic chains, implying that the nitrophenoxy groups partially insert into the micelles and face the several middle methylenes of the hydrophobic side chains.     

Anionic surfactants and surfactant ionic liquids with quaternary ammonium counterions

Small-angle neutron scattering and surface tension have been used to characterize a class of surfactants (SURFs), including surfactant ionic liquids (SAILs). These SURFs and SAILs are based on organic surfactant anions (single-tail dodecyl sulfate, DS, double-chain aerosol-OT, AOT, and the trichain, TC) with substituted quaternary ammonium cations. This class of surfactants can be obtained by straightforward chemistry, being cheaper and more environmentally benign than standard cationic SAILs. A surprising aspect of the results is that, broadly speaking, the physicochemical properties of these SURFs and SAILs are dominated by the nature of the surfactant anion and that the chemical structure of the added cation plays only a secondary role.     

Physicochemical properties of quaternary ammonium bromide-type trimeric surfactants

Trimeric surfactants of quaternary ammonium bromide (m-2-m-2-m, where m is the hydrocarbon chain length of 8, 10, or 12) with three hydrocarbon chains and three hydrophilic groups connected by two ethylene spacer chains were synthesized by the reaction of N,N,N',N",N"-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine and the corresponding alkyl bromide. Their physicochemical properties were characterized by surface tension, static and dynamic light-scattering, and fluorescence spectrum of pyrene techniques. The critical micelle concentrations (cmc's) of m-2-m-2-m shifted to lower concentrations with increasing hydrocarbon chain length, and their values were smaller by about one to three orders of magnitude than those of the corresponding dimeric (m-2-m) and monomeric surfactants (C(m)TAB) with the same hydrocarbon chain length. Of these surfactants, 10-2-10-2-10 showed the greatest efficiency in lowering the surface tension and provided the smallest occupied area per molecule, indicating that it adsorbs more compactly at the air/water interface. In addition, from the static and dynamic light-scattering measurements, the aggregation numbers of the trimeric surfactants at the cmc were very small, and two hydrodynamic diameters above the cmc were observed.     

Synthesis of novel quaternary ammonium surfactants containing adamantane

A series of novel quaternary ammonium surfactants containing adamantane were designed and synthesized from 1-adamantanecarboxylic acid.The structures of target surfactants were confirmed by]H NMR,elements analysis and FTIR.Surface properties of these surfactants were investigated.Due to the lipophilicity of adamantane,the critical micelle concentration（CMC） and C₂₀ values of the synthesized quaternary ammonium surfactants are lower than that of conventional quaternary ammonium surfactants.     

Synthesis and properties of quaternary ammonium Gemini surfactants with hydroxyl groups

The article describes synthesis of four hydroxyethyl alkylene–double alkyl bromide through substitution of nucleophilic d iethanolamine, 1-bromododecane, and 1,4-dibromobutane. The structure of the new hydroxyl cationic surfactant (HDCS) was characterized by ¹H NMR and FTIR spectra. The aqueous solution of HDCS showed critical micelle concentration, i.e., 5.6 × 10^?2 mM, and could reduce oil/water interfacial tension to 3.28 × 10^?3 mN m^?1. The surface tension measurements provided a series of parameters, including critical micelle concentration (CMC), surface tension at the CMC (γ_CMC), adsorption efficiency (pC₂₀), and effectiveness of surface tension reduction (Π_CMC). In addition, maximum surface excess concentration (Г_max) and minimum surface area/molecule (A_min) at the air/water interface were obtained by the Gibbs adsorption isotherm. The influence of inorganic salts (sodium chloride, calcium chloride) and organic salts (sodium benzoate) on the surface tension of HDCS in aqueous solution was investigated. For wettability alteration measurement, contact angle measurement as a quantitative method was utilized. Meanwhile, foam ability, foam stability, and emulsifying property of the synthesized surfactant were also examined at different concentration. HDCS also had excellent viscosity property.     

Zwitterionic heterogemini surfactants containing ammonium and carboxylate headgroups. 1. Adsorption and micellization

Zwitterionic heterogemini surfactants with two hydrocarbon chains and two different hydrophilic groups, N,N-dimethyl-N-[2-(N'-alkyl-N'-beta-carboxypropanoylamino)ethyl]-1-alkylammonium bromides (2C(n)AmCa, where n represents the hydrocarbon chain lengths of 8, 10, 12, and 14), were synthesized by N,N-dimethylethylenediamine with alkyl bromide, followed by reaction with succinic anhydride. One of the hydrophilic groups is a carboxylate anion, and the other is an ammonium cation. Their physicochemical properties were characterized by measuring equilibrium and dynamic surface tension, fluorescence intensity of pyrene, and light-scattering intensity. A relationship between a logarithm of critical micelle concentration (cmc) and hydrocarbon chain length showed a linear decrease upon increasing chain length and then a departure from linearity at n = 14. This is due to the existence of premicellar aggregations at concentrations below the cmc for n = 14. The surface tension of 2C(n)AmCa reached 27-30 mN m(-1) at each cmc, indicating efficiencies typical of hydrocarbon chain surfactants. The adsorbing rate at the air/water interface became slow with an increase of the chain length. From the fluorescence intensity ratios of 373 and 384 nm using pyrene as a probe, for n = 8, 10, and 14, the pyrene was solubilized in surfactant micelles at around the cmc, whereas for n = 12 the pyrene was solubilized from a concentration of 10-fold the cmc. The scattering intensities by dynamic light scattering also increased from around these concentrations for each chain length, showing the formation of aggregates in solution.     

Synthesis and characterization of new cationic quaternary ammonium polymerizable surfactants

Two new polymerizable surfactants (surfmers), (11-acryloyloxyundecyl)dimethylethylammonium bromide (ethyl surfmer) and (11-acryloyloxyundecyl)dimethyl(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium bromide (hydroxyethyl surfmer), were synthesized and characterized. The binary phase diagrams of both surfmer/water systems are described. Both surfmers can form isotropic solutions and lamellar lyotropic liquid crystalline phases. The hydroxyethyl surfmer/water system forms a lamellar phase for weight concentrations of surfmer between 70 and 90% relative to between 75 and 85% for the ethyl surfmer/water system. The differences in the self assembly of these surfmers were attributed to the ability of hydroxyethyl surfmer to form hydrogen bonds (between two head groups and with water), whereas no such interactions can occur with the ethyl surfmer system.     

Effect of the alkyl chain of quaternary ammonium cationic surfactants on corrosion inhibition in hydrochloric acid solution

In this study, the effect of the alkyl chain of quaternary ammonium cationic surfactants on corrosion inhibition in hydrochloric acid (HCl) solution was investigated by using dodecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (DTAC), tetradecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (TTAC), cetyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (CTAC), and octadecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (OTAC) as corrosion inhibitors to uncover their structure–efficiency relationships. The effect of the alkyl chain of quaternary ammonium cationic surfactants on corrosion inhibition in HCl solution was studied under different conditions, such as corrosion inhibitor concentration, temperature, and acidity, and this was done using the weightlessness method. The results obtained show that these inhibitors have high corrosion inhibition effect on A₃ steel, and the corrosion inhibition efficiency is dependent on the length of the alkyl chain. At the same concentration, the longer the alkyl chain, the weaker the corrosion inhibition effect. When the temperature was 50 °C and the concentration of corrosion inhibitor was 70 mg/L, the corrosion inhibition efficiency order of the four cationic surfactants was DTAC > TTAC > CTAC > OTAC. Besides, the experimental results obtained show that the adsorption of the inhibitor on the A₃ steel surface conforms to the Langmuir type isotherm, and then the corresponding adsorption thermodynamic parameters were obtained according to these parameters. It was observed that ΔH, ΔS, and E_a increased with increase in the length of the alkyl chain. The adsorption of the inhibitor on the steel surface is an exothermic, spontaneous, entropy process.     

Molecular aggregates of partially fluorinated quaternary ammonium salt gemini surfactants

The size and shape of novel partially fluorinated gemini surfactant 1,2-bis[dimethyl-(3-perfluoroalkyl-2-hydroxypropyl)ammonium]ethane bromide (CnFC3-2-C3CnF, where n=4, 6, and 8) were investigated in aqueous solution by means of light scattering and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The sizes of these molecular aggregates changed with increasing carbon number of the alkyl chain and concentration. For example, the apparent hydrodynamic radius by dynamic light scattering was 18 nm at a concentration of cmcx5 for n=4, 115 nm at the cmcx15 for n=6, and 62 nm at the cmcx30 for n=8, at 298.2 K. The shapes of CnFC3-2-C3CnF aggregates drastically changed with the alkyl chain length; the aggregates were mainly in the form of large or irregular small aggregates (n=4), string-like aggregates (n=6), and vesicles (n=8). The bromide-ion activity was measured using a bromide-ion-selective electrode to determine the degree of counterion binding to the aggregates. The degree of counterion binding to aggregate was very small compared with that in the typical hydrogenated gemini surfactants. These results indicated that the small curvature of large aggregates was not influenced by an electrostatic repulsion between the cationic head groups in the case of the bulky molecular volume of fluorinated gemini surfactants.     

Surface properties, aggregation behavior and micellization thermodynamics of a class of gemini surfactants with ethyl ammonium headgroups

Cationic gemini surfactant homologues alkanediyl-α,ω-bis(dodecyldiethylammonium bromide), [C(12)H(25)(CH(3)CH(2))(2)N(CH(2))(S)N(CH(2)CH(3))(2)C(12)H(25)]Br(2) (where S=2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20), referred to as C(12)C(S)C(12)(Et) were synthesized systematically. This paper focused on various properties of the above gemini surfactants in order to give a full understanding of this series of surfactants. The following points are covered: (1) surface properties, which include (i) effect of the spacer carbon number on the general properties and (ii) the effect of added NaBr on the general surface properties; (2) aggregation behavior in bulk solution, including (i) morphologies of above gemini surfactants classed as having short spacers, middle-length spacers and long spacers and (ii) superior vesicle stability against high NaBr concentration for the long spacer gemini surfactants; (3) thermodynamic properties during micellization and the effect of spacer carbon number on them; and (4) perspectives for the further use and application of these compounds.     

New lyotropic nematics of double chain surfactants

The phase behaviour of N,N-dialkyl-N,N-dimethyl ammonium bromide double chain surfactants was investigated by polarization microscopy, ²H-N.M.R. spectroscopy, and surface and magnetic field alignment in order to find new lyotropic nematic systems. Decanol was utilized to cause a rod to disc transition in the nematic phase. The sign of the anisotropy of the diamagnetic susceptibility Δx was inverted by substituting the bromide counter-ion with the benzenesulphonate ion. The phase behaviour was modified within a wide range by varying the length of the two alkyl chains. Using these tools we were able to prepare any of the four kinds of uniaxial nematic phases: rod-like and disc-like aggregates with both negative and positive anisotropy of the diamagnetic susceptibility. Several new binary, ternary and quaternary systems of these double chain surfactants and some experiments are described to classify the different nematic phases.     

Star-shaped trimeric quaternary ammonium bromide surfactants: adsorption and aggregation properties

Novel star-shaped trimeric surfactants consisting of three quaternary ammonium surfactants linked to a tris(2-aminoethyl)amine core were synthesized. Each ammonium had two methyls and a straight alkyl chain of 8, 10, 12, or 14 carbons. The adsorption and aggregation properties of these tris(N-alkyl-N,N-dimethyl-2-ammoniumethyl)amine bromides (3C(n)trisQ, in which n represents alkyl chain carbon number) were characterized by equilibrium and dynamic surface tension, rheology, small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) techniques. 3C(n)trisQ showed critical micelle concentrations (CMC) 1 order of magnitude lower than that of the corresponding gemini surfactants with an ethylene spacer and the corresponding monomeric surfactants. The logarithm of the CMC decreased linearly with increasing hydrocarbon chain length for 3C(n)trisQ. The slope of the line, which is well-known as Klevens equation, was larger than those of the monomeric and gemini surfactants; however, considering the total carbon number in the chains, the slope was shallower than the monomeric and was close to the gemini. Through the results such as surface tensions at the CMC (32-34 mN m(-1)) and the parameters of standard free energy, CMC/C(20) and pC(20), it was found that 3C(n)trisQ could adsorb densely at the air/water interface despite the strong electrostatic repulsion between multiple quaternary ammonium headgroups. Moreover, dynamic surface tension measurements showed that the kinetics of adsorption for 3C(n)trisQ to the air/water interface was slow because of their bulky structures. Furthermore, the results of rheology, SANS, and cryo-TEM determined that 3C(n)trisQ with n = 10 and 12 formed ellipsoidal micelles at low concentrations in solution and the structures transformed to threadlike micelles with very few branches for n = 12 as the concentration increased, but for n = 14 threadlike micelles formed at relatively low concentrations.     

1H NMR study on pre-micellization of quaternary ammonium gemini surfactants

Two quaternary ammonium Gemini surfactant series, 12-s-12, ([C(12)H(25)N+ (CH(3))(2)](2)(CH(2))(s).(2)Br(-)) and 14-s-14 ([C(14)H(29)N(+)(CH(3))(2)](2)(CH(2))(s).(2)Br(-)), where s = 2, 3, and 4, have been studied by the use of (1)H NMR in aqueous solution at concentrations below their critical micelle concentrations (CMC) at 25 degrees C. The appearance of a second set of peaks for the 14-s-14 series and the changes in chemical shifts, line widths, and line shapes of the 12-s-12 series with increasing concentration below the CMC are interpreted as evidence for the formation of premicelle aggregates (oligomers) that appear at approximately one-half their CMC values. Self-diffusion coefficients (D) and transverse relaxation times (T(2)) have also been detected and support the results obtained by (1)H NMR.     

Interactions between benzyl benzoate and single- and double-chain quaternary ammonium surfactants

Interactions between benzyl benzoate and two different twin-tailed cationic surfactants have been studied. NMR diffusometry measurements have shown that cationic micelles grow in one dimension when benzyl benzoate is added. The location of benzyl benzoate in the micelles was evaluated by NOESY, showing that benzyl benzoate gave cross-peaks both to the hydrophobic groups in the surfactant and to the surfactant head group. Additions of benzyl benzoate to a lamellar phase of double-tailed quaternary surfactants revealed differences in responses. With an increasing concentration of benzyl benzoate, the structure of the dialkyl quat aggregate goes from lamellar to cubic, while the dialkyl ester quat forms a lamellar structure for all benzyl benzoate concentrations.     

Interactions of quaternary ammonium salt-type gemini surfactants with sodium poly(styrene sulfonate)

The interactions of cationic gemini surfactants, 1,2-bis(alkyldimethylammonio)ethane dibromide (m-2-m: m is hydrocarbon chain length, m = 10 and 12), and an anionic polymer, sodium poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS), have been characterized by several techniques such as tensiometry, fluorescence spectroscopy, and dynamic light scattering. The surface tension of gemini surfactant/PSS mixed systems decreases with surfactant concentration, reaching break points, which are taken as critical aggregation concentrations (cac). The surface tension at the cac of mixtures is higher than that of single surfactants, and it is found that at concentrations above the cac, the surfactant molecules are associated with the polymer in the bulk. The 12-2-12/PSS mixed system shows higher surface activity than both 10-2-10/PSS and the monomeric surfactant of dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide/PSS systems. Fluorescence measurements of these mixed systems suggest the formation of a complex with a highly hydrophobic environment in the bulk of the solution. Additionally, dynamic light scattering measurements show that the hydrodynamic diameter of the 12-2-12/PSS mixed system is smaller than that of PSS only at low concentration, indicating interactions between surfactant and polymer. These result from the electrostatic attraction between ammonium and sulfate headgroups as well as the hydrophobic interaction between their hydrocarbon chains.     

Adsorption of quaternary ammonium chlorides with various hydrocarbon chain lengths to glass

Contact angles, measured with various liquids, have been employed to calculate the surface free energies of glass after adsorption of quaternary ammonium chlorides with a variable hydrocarbon chain length 8n16. The thickness of the adsorbed layers has been determined ellipsometrically. A clear relation is observed between the measured parameters and the hydrocarbon chain lengthn, if only the extremesn=8 andn=16 are considered. Surface free energies decrease from 138 erg.cm^–2 for clean glass to 101 and 64 erg.cm^–2 forn=8 andn=16, respectively, at the highest concentration tested (7.5 mM). The adsorbed layer thickness of C₈ amounts to approximately 50 % of the thickness observed for C₁₆. No clear relation between the measured parameters is observed for the intermediate hydrocarbon chain lengths, which presumably reflects the many configurations possible in these adsorbed layers. It is envisaged that adsorption of C₈ as well as C₁₆ is restricted to a monolayer, which is completed at approximately 2 mM. In the case of C₈ electrostatic repulsion between the polar headgroups will inhibit further adsorption, whereas in the case of C₁₆ the van der Waals attraction from the adsorbed layer and the glass will probably not be sufficient to stimulate further adsorption.     

Determination of quaternary ammonium surfactants in pharmaceutical formulations by the hypochromic effect

A spectrophotometric procedure for determination of the quaternary ammonium salts cetrimide (N,N,N-trimethyl-l-hexadecylammonium bromide), cetylpyridinium chloride (l-hexadecyl-pyridinium chloride) and sapamine [N-(2-dimethylaminoethyl)oleamide acetate] in bulk form and some pharmaceutical formulations, such as eye-drops, disinfectant solutions, creams and tablets, is described. Following TLC separation when necessary, addition of an aqueous solution of the active surfactant to a standard amount of Bromothymol Blue, buffered at pH 7.5, leads to an equivalent decrease of the absorbance at 610 nm, which can be taken as an analytical measure of the drug concentration. Good mean recoveries have been obtained for standard additions of these analytes to pharmaceutical formulations containing them.