Effects of spacer chain length and additives on solution properties of cationic gemini surfactant

The critical micelle concentration (CMC) has been determined for the gemini surfactant trimethylene-1,3-bis(dodecyldimethyl ammonium bromide)12-s-12,2Br(-1) by means of electricity conductivity measurements. For the same number of carbon atoms in the hydrophobic chain per hydrophilic head group, geminis have CMC values well below those of conventional single-chain cationic surfactants. The CMC of 12-3-12 reduces with the addition of n-alcohol except ethanol and with the increase of n-alcohol chain length as well as increase of concentration of n-butanol and sodium chloride. Steady-state fluorescence quenching technology has been employed to study the aggregation number of micelle, which increases with increase in the length of n-alcohol. The Kraft temperature measurements also indicate that the stability of solid surfactant hydrate decreases along with the improvement of concentration of n-butanol and sodium chloride.