Effects of head group on the properties of cationic surfactants containing hydroxyethyl- and hydroxyisopropyl fragments

Abstract Cationic surfactants containing different head-groups have been synthesized by interaction of tetradecyl bromide and amines having hydroxyalkyl group (monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, methylethanolamine, methyldiethanolamine, diethanolisopropanolamine, ethanoldiisopropanolamine, triisopropanolamine). Surfactivity parameters of the synthesized cationic surfactants have been determined by measurements of surface tension and electroconductance. The character of change of the colloidal-chemical parameters with an increase of the number of hydroxyethyl and hydroxyisopropyl groups in the head-group of the cationic surfactants has been established. The synthesized cationic surfactants possess effective antibacterial and antifungal properties.