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Biodegradability of cationic surfactants

  • Chapter
Biodegradability of Surfactants

Abstract

Cationic surfactants refer to molecules with at least one hydrophobic hydrocarbon tail attached to a hydrophilic head-group carrying a positive charge. Of the cationic surfactants especially quaternary ammonium salts are of commercial significance. These compounds consist of one or more hydrophobic alkyl chain(s), benzyl, hydroxyethyl, polyethylene glycol and/or methyl groups linked to a positively charged nitrogen atom (Figure 6.1). Primary, secondary and tertiary long-chain amine salts may be positively charged and can therefore be regarded as cationic surfactants. Most cationic surfactants have straight alkyl chain(s) with lengths between 8 and 24 carbon atoms. These compounds are primarily produced on the basis of natural fats and oils such as tallow fat, coconut oil and palm oil, resulting in mixed alkyl chain lengths in most of the products.

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Authors
  1. C. G. van Ginkel
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Akcros Chemicals, Eccles Manchester, UK

    D. R. Karsa

  2. Maurice R. Porter & Associates, Sully Cardiff, UK

    M. R. Porter (Consultants in Speciality Chemicals) (Consultants in Speciality Chemicals)

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© 1995 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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van Ginkel, C.G. (1995). Biodegradability of cationic surfactants. In: Karsa, D.R., Porter, M.R. (eds) Biodegradability of Surfactants. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1348-9_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1348-9_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-4588-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-1348-9

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