The effect on Solution Properties of Replacing a Hydrogen Atom with a Methyl Group in a Surfactant

Journal article, 2015

Two surfactants, namely, dodecanoylglycinate and dodecanoylsarcosinate, differing only in a methyl group vs. a hydrogen atom on the amide nitrogen, have been studied with respect to solution behavior and adsorption at the air-water, oil-water and calcium carbonate-water interfaces. It was found that the ability of the glycinate surfactant of forming intermolecular hydrogen bonds via the amide group leads to tighter molecular packing, which greatly influenced the behavior at interfaces. Based on this molecular observation, potential applications were considered and emulsification, foaming and wetting tests were carried out. It could be concluded from this work that a minor change in the structure of a surfactant molecule can be very significant for technological systems and processes.