Fundamental Interfacial Properties of Alkyl-Branched Sulfate and Ethoxy Sulfate Surfactants Derived from Guerbet Alcohols. 1. Surface and Instantaneous Interfacial Tensions

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/j100157a033

Guerbet surfactants are a unique class of amphiphiles in which the carbon atom β to the head group carries an alkyl substituent.A variety of Guerbet sulfate and monodispers ethoxy sulfate surfactants were synthesized, and their interfacial properties determined at the air-water and decane-water interfaces to determine how Guerbet branching influences interfacial properties.Guerbet surfactants exhibited higher critical micelle concentrations and enhanced effectiveness and efficiency in lowering the surface tension at the air-water interface compared to their linear counterparts.At the decane-water interface the differences between the Guerbet and linear surfactants were not as pronounced as at the air-water interface.The relationship between Guerbet hydrophobe structure and interfacial properties is discussed.