Synthesis, Characterization, Biodegradation and Evaluation of the Surface Active Properties of Nonionic Surfactants Derived from Jatropha Oil

Abstract

Four nonionic surface active agents were synthesized using the fatty acids obtained from the hydrolysis of Jatropha oil. The fatty acids obtained contained different fatty acids including: palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids in different proportions. The chemical structures of the obtained surfactants were characterized using elemental analysis and FTIR spectroscopy. The surface activities of the different surfactants were determined using surface and interfacial tension measurements. The surfactants showed good surface and interfacial activities, which are dependent on their chemical structures. Thermodynamic parameters of adsorption and micellization confirmed these results. The biodegradation tests in river water showed that the surfactants are readily biodegradable, and reached the European standards after 24 days. Surfactants containing longer nonionic chains formed stable emulsions with paraffin oil, while shorter chains exhibit a lower emulsion stability performance.

Synthesis and Surface Activity of Nonionic Surfactants Derived from Gallic Acid

“…This result suggests that the longer the polyethylene glycol chains of the gallic acid-derived surfactants, the weaker the adsorption at the air-water interface. Comparing these results with our previous results of nonionic surfactants [24,26] indicates that gallic acid-derived surfactants are superior in reducing the surface tension due to their high adsorption tendency at air-water interface.…”

“…But, the increase in ethylene glycol units increases the hydrophobicity of the molecules due to the increase in methylene groups incorporated in the chains, which increases the adsorption of the molecules at air-aqueous interface to reach the saturation. The interface saturation forced the molecules to undergo into the bulk of the aqueous solution to from micelles [20,24]. The maximum surface excess (Γ max ) is defined as the maximum concentration can be reached by surfactant at airaqueous solution interface before the micellization occurred in the bulk.…”

“…The reaction mixture heated at 134 • C for 6 h until the water of reaction (0.2 mole, 3.6 mL) was obtained [15]. After the reaction mixture is allowed to cool, solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure.…”

Synthesis of Five and Six-Membered Heterocycles Using Activated Nitriles for Industrial Applications

“…The surface tension values of the solutions in the river water reached a maximum after 8 days and the gradual increase in the surface tension lead to the loss of the surface activity for the surfactant that dissolved in the river water. The loss of surface activity is may be due to the breaking of the molecules due to the biodegradation 47 .…”

Environmentally Friendly Nonionic Surfactants Derived from Jatropha Oil Fatty Acids as Inhibitors for Carbon Steel Corrosion in Acidic Medium

“…The gradual increase in the surface tension is ascribed to the loss of the surface activity of the inhibitors dissolved in the river water. The loss of surface activity is may be due to the breaking of the inhibitor molecules due to the biodegradation [35]. The biodegradation products in the start of the test period (i.e., 1-10 days) have surface active character, which retains the surface activity of the solutions.…”