FUNDAMENTAL INTERFACIAL PROPERTIES OF ALKYL-BRANCHED SULFATE AND ETHOXY SULFATE SURFACTANTS DERIVED FROM GUERBET ALCOHOLS .1. SURFACE AND INSTANTANEOUS INTERFACIAL-TENSIONS

Guerbet surfactants are a unique class of amphiphiles in which the carbon atom-beta to the head group carries an alkyl substituent. A variety of Guerbet sulfate and monodisperse ethoxy sulfate surfactants were synthesized, and their interfacial properties determined at the air-water and decane-water interfaces to determine how Guerbet branching influences interfacial properties. Guerbet surfactants exhibited higher critical micelle concentrations and enhanced effectiveness and efficiency in lowering the surface tension at the air-water interface compared to their linear counterparts. At the decane-water interface the differences between the Guerbet and linear surfactants were not as pronounced as at the air-water interface. The relationship between Guerbet hydrophobe structure and interfacial properties is discussed.