Biodegradable surfactants from side streams of the vegetable oils production in technical systems

Abstract

This work reports the structure of surfactants synthesized from by-products of the vegetable oil production. These are raw materials that do not compete with food products; they are low-cost phosphatidic sludge that can be used directly for chemical transformation. Fatty acid monoetanolamides derived from side streams of the vegetable oils production do not have residues of the original phosphatides or acylglycerols as determined by spectral methods. There are clearly reflected cross-peaks between the amide group and the adjacent methylene group. This indicates a high conversion of substrate and further confirms the amidation reaction. The main acyl residue of the synthesized surfactants are hydrocarbon chain of linoleic acid however, while the detection of methylene groups near double bonds indicates the presence of other fatty acids (oleic, linolenic and gadolein), this corresponds to the fatty acid composition of the original phosphatidic sludge. Synthesized surfactants are effective emulsifiers-stabilizers for dispersed systems. The use of environmentally friendly components in the composition of surfactants improves their biodegradability to 83–86%.