Branched polyoxyethylene surfactants with different hydrophilic head groups from fatty acid derivatives

Abstract

New branched polyoxyethylene surfactants with different hydrophilic head groups have been synthesized from fatty acid derivatives as renewable resources. Through a systematic study of the surfactant properties of the obtained substances, ethoxylated monohydroxy stearic acid methyl ester (12-HMEEn) with a single hydrophilic head group, similar to commercial Guerbet alcohol polyoxyethylene ether, has been identified as the most promising candidate. It has excellent surfactant properties including good wettability, low foaming, and strong defoaming ability, indicating that it could be useful in industrial cleaning.