Soy-Based Surface Active Copolymers As a Safer Replacement for Low Molecular Weight Surfactants

Abstract

Environmentally friendly soybean-based polymeric surfactants (SBPS) were synthesized using cationic polymerization of a vinyl ether monomer derived from soybean and tri(ethylene glycol) ethyl vinyl ether. The ability of SBPS to form micelles that solubilize hydrophobic molecules has been shown. Micellar "capacity" (size of micellar interior) increased with increasing polymeric surfactant concentration and temperature. The obtained results provide evidence for potential use of SBPS as a safer replacement for low molecular weight surfactants in the solubilization of poorly soluble ingredients in cosmetics. The macromolecules developed can be used as both a surface active agent and an additive that enhances the surface activity of low molecular weight surfactants (for example, anionic sodium lauryl sulfate) in personal-care products.

Evaluation of soy‐based surface active copolymers as surfactant ingredients in model shampoo formulations

“…A red shift of the absorption band with enhanced excitation intensity was observed in optical spectra measurements due to the migration of the probe from the hydrophilic to the hydrophobic region of the polymer micelles, depending on the environment of the pyrene (Fig. As it was shown in our previous study [31], the size of the micellar interior and, thus, it's 'capacity' for extracting the impurities, can be tuned by the number of 2-VOES sequences in the SBPS macromolecules. In our experiments, pyrene excitation spectra were monitored in the wavelength range of 300-360 nm.…”

“…It is expected that once the copolymer micelles are formed in the aqueous solution, the hydrophilic exterior of the micelles provides stability in water and the hydrophobic interior solubilizes hydrophobic species, for example, dirt, oils. As it was shown in our previous study [31], the size of the micellar interior and, thus, it's 'capacity' for extracting the impurities, can be tuned by the number of 2-VOES sequences in the SBPS macromolecules. Upon contact of the SBPS solution with a surface, the 'dirt' is extracted and accumulated into the interior of the micelles and can be removed from the surface when the solution is rinsed.…”

“…To confirm formation of SBPS copolymer micelles in aqueous solution, the CMC was determined using the solubilization of pyrene technique [31,36] and surface tension measurements. A red shift of the absorption band with enhanced excitation intensity was observed in optical spectra measurements due to the migration of the probe from the hydrophilic to the hydrophobic region of the polymer micelles, depending on the environment of the pyrene (Fig.…”

“…Recently, we synthesized and characterized novel soybean oilbased polymeric surfactants (SBPSs) using cationic copolymeriza-tion of a vinyl ether monomer derived from soybean oil and tri(ethylene glycol) ethyl vinyl ether [31]. Such SBPSs are considered to be 'naturally-derived' as they are synthesized partially based on natural raw materialsoybean oil, as well as 'dioxane-free' for the 1,4-dioxane is not a part of development process.…”

Associative properties of poly(ethylene glycol)–poly(vinyl acetate) comb-like graft copolymers in water

“…[8][9][10] Amphiphilic non-linear graft copolymers with chemically different backbone and side chains are attractive candidates for several applications, for example in drug delivery, food systems, and other technological applications. [11][12][13][14][15][16][17] Their specific architecture is known to determine fundamentally different topology, properties, and solution behaviour with respect to linear block copolymers. 18 Amphiphilic graft copolymers have been investigated less extensively than their linear counterparts, due to the only recent development of controlled polymerization methods such as controlled/living radical polymerization, "grafting to" and "grafting from" techniques.…”