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Gemini Surfactants Foam Formation Ability and Foam Stability Depends on Spacer Length

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Journal of Surfactants and Detergents

Abstract

A series of cationic gemini surfactants containing different spacer length were synthesized and analyzed structurally. It was shown that the surface tension (σ) and critical micelle concentration (CMC), which had a maximum for the n-C4H8 spacer depended on the spacer length. The foaming ability and foam stability are high for the gemini surfactants with short spacers (C2H4 to n-C4H8), while longer spacers lead to a distinct decrease of these foam parameters. Foaming properties are discussed in terms of configuration and conformation of a surfactant molecule and in relation to micellization state kinetic.

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Acknowledgments

We kindly acknowledge S. Felsinger for recording NMR measurements and A. Charciarek for performing the foamability tests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Surfactants Department, Institute of Heavy Organic Synthesis “Blachownia”, Energetyków 9, 47-300, Kedzierzyn-Kozle, Poland

    Edyta Kuliszewska

  2. Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Vienna, Waehringerstraße 38, A-1090 Wien, Austria

    Lothar Brecker

Authors
  1. Edyta Kuliszewska
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  2. Lothar Brecker
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Correspondence to Edyta Kuliszewska.

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Kuliszewska, E., Brecker, L. Gemini Surfactants Foam Formation Ability and Foam Stability Depends on Spacer Length. J Surfact Deterg 17, 951–957 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11743-014-1582-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11743-014-1582-5

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