Synthesis and surface activity of novel high energy nitrate surfactants

Abstract

A series of single hydrophobic chain high-energy surfactants with a nitrate group and an alkyl chain length of between C8 and C14 were synthesized using novel approaches. The structures of the obtained compounds were characterized by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, MS and IR spectroscopies. In addition, the physical and chemical properties of these high-energy surfactants were measured by the surface tension method and their principal surface activity parameters such as cmc, γ cmc, pC20, cmc/C20, Γ max, and A min were determined. This article provides an elaborate discussion of the characteristics of the surface activity parameters and thermal stability that change with increasing length of the hydrophobic chains. For these high-energy surfactants, experiments have shown that longer hydrophobic chain leads to better surface activity, while slightly reducing thermal stability.