Eco-technologies for obtaining carbohydrates based surfactants

Abstract

Carbohydrate based surfactants represent an alternative to surfactants produced from petrochemical raw materials. They can be prepared from various renewable vegetable raw materials in a large structural diversity. This class of surfactants presents high surface active properties and functionalities, being use in different industrial areas. The development of carbohydrate based surfactants is possible due to their higher biodegradability and lower toxicity. Two carbohydrate based surfactants, galactose palmitate and bolaamphiphilic surfactant 1,12-dodecanedioyl digalactose, were synthesized by reacting the galactose with fatty acid chlorides, in aqueous medium, alkaline catalysis, at room temperature, following the principles of green chemistry. The structures of synthesized surfactants were proved by FT-IR analysis. The surface activity of galactose palmitate was demonstrated by a low surface tension at the interface water/oil.