SYNTHESIS OF SURFACTANTS FROM NATURAL RAW MATERIALS

Abstract

This article presents a surfactant synthesized from a mixture of palmitic, oleic, and stearic acids obtained by the distillation and fractionation of oils and fats, as well as ethanol. The synthesis was carried out in 4 stages, which involved the initial formation of an acid mixture, followed by esterification, sulfonation, and ultimately saponification. The composition of the fatty acid mixture was analyzed using chromatography, revealing that palmitic acid makes up the largest proportion at 64.3%, followed by oleic acid at 29.1%. The structure and properties of the surfactant were investigated using modern methods and instruments. The average particle size of the surfactant indicates that it can be classified as a highly dispersed system, with particle diameters ranging from 10 nm to 1 μm. It was observed that the particle size of the surfactant increases once the critical concentration of micellization is reached. The stability of the system in the substance is indicated by a ζ-potential that falls outside the range of 30 mV < ζ < -30 mV. The resulting product exhibits good surface-active properties such as detergency, emulsification, wetting, and foaming ability. According to hydrophilic-lipophilic balance calculations, the synthesized surfactant is classified as a detergent. It demonstrates a high ability to remove pigment-oil and protein contamination at a concentration of 4.0 g/dm3, regardless of the fabric type. Additionally, it was found that the synthesized surfactant exhibits significant emulsifying ability towards industrial oils. The analysis of the surface tension of the surfactant showed that its critical concentration for micelle formation is 4.0 g/dm3. The surfactant demonstrates high wetting abilities on both hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces. The foaming properties of the surfactant are satisfactory compared to known surfactants from petrochemical raw materials. Moreover, stable foaming is observed, which directly depends on the surfactant concentration. For citation: Lutfullina G.G., Valeeva E.E. Synthesis of surfactants from natural raw materials. ChemChemTech [Izv. Vyssh. Uchebn. Zaved. Khim. Khim. Tekhnol.]. 2024. V. 67. N 6. P. 45-54. DOI: 10.6060/ivkkt.20246706.6984.