Study on the Synthesis and Surface Activities of Novel Alkyl Sulfonate Gemini Surfactants

Abstract Three novel dialkyl disulfonate gemini surfactants (C n -6-C n , n = 6, 8, 12; n is carbon number of hydrophobic chain) were synthesized from cyanuric chloride, aliphatic amine and taurine. The chemical structures of the prepared compounds were confirmed by 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR, IR spectra and ESI-MS. Their critical micelle concentrations (CMC) in the aqueous solutions at 25°C were determined by surface-tension method. With the increasing length of the hydrophobic carbon chain, the values of their CMC decreased. The surface tension measurements of C n -6-C n give low CMC, great efficiency in lowering the surface tension, and strong adsorption at air–water interface. In addition, adsorption and micellization behavior of C n -6-C n were estimated by the parameter of pC 20 , the minimum average area per surfactant molecule (A min ).