Synthesis and properties of quaternary ammonium gemini surfactants

A series of quaternary ammonium gemini surfactants(GnCl2) were synthesized with alkyl-dimethyl-tertiary amine(R(CH3)2N,R=CnH2n+1,n=12,14,16),hydrochloric acid and epoxy chloropropane as raw materials.The products were characterized by elemental analysis and 1HNMR.Surface activity,foaming and sterilizing performance of the aqueous solution of the product were investigated.The results indicated that the gemini cationic surfactant products have strong surface activity.The surface activity is relevant to the number of carbon atoms in the alkyl chain of surfactant molecule.The longer the alkyl chain is,the lower the critical micelle concentration will be.Among the three kinds of GnCl2,G12Cl2 solution possesses the highest foaming power and foam stability,but the lowest foaming power and foam stability efficiency.Sterilizing performance of the surfactants was determined with filter paper diffusion method.The results showed that all of the synthesized quaternary ammonium gemini surfactants performs quite good sterilizing performance.