Synthesis, characterization, biodegradability and surfactant properties of bio-sourced lauroyl poly(glycerol-succinate) oligoesters

Abstract Fully bio-sourced lauroyl oligoester surfactants, based on poly(glycerol-succinate) as polar head group with controllable sizes and topologies were prepared without solvent nor catalyst using A 2  + B′B 2  + AR and A 2  + B′B 2  + B′BR synthesis approaches. The alkyl chain was either derived from lauric acid or from glycerol α-monolaurate. The oligoester surfactants were characterized by quantitative 13 C NMR, acid values and size exclusion chromatography. Their surface activity, foamability, foam stability, wetting power, solubilization properties and biodegradability were investigated proving their potential use in a wide set of applications in replacement of petrochemical surfactants. This study underlines the relative impacts of the succinic acid/glycerol monomer ratios and of the strategies of synthesis on the physico-chemical behaviour, on the biodegradability and on the stability of the lauroyl poly(glycerol-succinate) surfactants.