Determination of average molecular weight of commercial surfactants: Alkylpolyglucosides and fatty alcohol ethoxylates

A 4‐component, analytically defined, reference fluorosurfactant formulation (Ref‐aqueous film forming foam [AFFF]) composed of 0.3% fluorocarbon‐surfactant concentrate (Capstone 1157), 0.2% hydrocarbon‐surfactant concentrate (Glucopon 215 UP), and 0.5% diethylene glycol mono butyl ether by volume in distilled water was found to have rapid fire extinction comparable to a commercial AFFF in tests conducted on a bench scale and a large scale (28 ft2, part of US Military Specification, MIL‐F‐24385F). The Ref‐AFFF was analytically characterized to provide the identity and quantity of the chemical structures of the surfactant molecules that were lacking for commercial AFFF formulations. To arrive at an acceptable Ref‐AFFF formulation, 3 candidate formulations containing different hydrocarbon surfactants in varying amounts were evaluated and ranked relative to a commercial AFFF using a bench‐scale fire‐extinction apparatus; varying the hydrocarbon surfactant was found to affect the fire‐extinction time. The ranking was confirmed by the large‐scale tests suggesting that the bench‐scale apparatus is a reasonable research tool for identifying surfactants likely to succeed in the large‐scale test. In the future, replacing the fluorocarbon surfactant with an alternative surfactant in the Ref‐AFFF enables a direct comparison of fire extinction and environmental impact to identify an acceptable fluorine‐free formulation.

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 90%

“…Structures of Ref‐AFFF components (Pabon, ; Rodriguez et al, ); corresponding molecular weight Capstone 1157 (556 g mol −1 ), Glucopon (390 g mol −1 ), and DGBE (162 g mol −1 )…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Chemical Characterization Of Ref-afff Formulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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An Analytically Defined Fire‐Suppressing Foam Formulation for Evaluation of Fluorosurfactant Replacement

Hinnant

Giles

Snow

et al. 2018

“…The experiments were followed by analysis of the total fat content in the washing bath at the end of the assay, and of the concentration of oleic acid generated according to time during enzymatic hydrolysis. (11); DP, degree of polymerization (11); OE, average number of ethylene oxide units per molecule (11); HLB, hydrophilic-lipophilic balance, calculated according to Griffin (12) and Bravo Rodriguez et al (11).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enzyme‐based detergent formulas for fatty soils and hard surfaces in a continuous‐flow device

Jurado

Bravo

Núñez-Olea

et al. 2006

The present work analyzes the effect of incorporating a lipolytic enzyme (Lipolase ® 100L) into detergent formulas for washing fatty soils on hard surfaces. The experimental device, which is called a "bath-substrate-flow" device, uses a continuous flow on a substrate (glass spheres) soiled with triolein. Washing tests were done using only the enzyme and changing both its concentration and the temperature of the process. The results showed that, in the presence of lipase, soil removal was achieved through three consecutive mechanisms: (i) fundamental removal of the soil by the bath flow through the experimental device; (ii) emulsion of the soil in the washing medium; and (iii) enzymatic hydrolysis of the dispersed soil. Different commercial surfactants were used, and detergency was evaluated in the absence and presence of lipase. The use of surfactant formulas with the lipolytic enzyme showed a positive effect of the enzyme on the detergency values registered with the fatty alcohol ethoxylate surfactants Findet ® 10/15 and Findet 1214N/23, and with the anionic surfactant linear alkylbenzene sulfonate. The commercial surfactants Glucopon ® 600, Glucopon 650, Findet 10/18, and Findet Q/21.5NF alone each presented high detergency values for fatty soils, and the effect of the incorporation of the lipase was not significant.Paper no. S1493 in JSD 9, 83-90 (Qtr. 1, 2006).

“…Alkylpolyglucoside (APG, mixture of alkyl chain C 8 –C 10 , degree of polymerization = 1.6, average molecular formula C 8.6 G 1.6 [9] Glucopon 215 UP) were purchased from Brenntag (UK and Ireland), sodium soap (Na soap, composition of C 12 –C 18 , average molecular formula C 13.4 Na, Prisavon 1873) was obtained from Coda (UK), and ethoxylated (7EO) lauryl alcohol C 12 –C 14 (AE, average molecular formula C 13 E 7 , Rokanol L7) was purchased from PCC Exsol (Poland). The water used for the preparation of the solution was double-distilled with a surface tension of 73.1 ± 0.5 mN/m at 20 °C.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perfectly Wetting Mixtures of Surfactants from Renewable Resources: The Interaction and Synergistic Effects on Adsorption and Micellization

Szumała

Mówińska

2016

This paper presents a study of the surface properties of mixtures of surfactants originating from renewable sources, i.e., alkylpolyglucoside (APG), ethoxylated fatty alcohol (AE), and sodium soap (Na soap). The main objective was to optimize the surfactant ratio which produces the highest wetting properties during the analysis of the solution of the individual surfactants, two- and three-component mixtures, and at different pH values. The results showed the existence of a synergistic effect in lowering the interfacial tension, critical micelle concentration and the formation of mixed micelles in selected solutions. We found that best wetting properties were measured for the binary AE:APG mixtures. It has been demonstrated that slightly lower contact angles values were observed on Teflon and glass surfaces for the AE:APG:soap mixtures but the results were obtained for higher concentration of the components. In addition, all studied solutions have very good surface properties in acidic, basic and neural media. However, the AE:soap (molar ratio of 1:2), AE:APG (2:1) and AE:APG:soap (1:1:1) compositions improved their wetting power at pH 7 on the aluminium and glass surfaces, as compared to solutions at other pH values tested (selected Θ values close to zero—perfectly wetting liquids). All described effects detected would allow less surfactant to be used to achieve the maximum capacity of washing, wetting or solubilizing while minimizing costs and demonstrating environmental care.