The Synthesis of Renewable Surfactants Using Household Carbohydrates and Oils
No Thumbnail Available
Authors
Chennai, Blake
Lohar, Noah
Date of Issue
2023-04-28
Type
Presentation
Language
Subject Keywords
Other Titles
Abstract
Surfactants are self-assembled molecular clusters, called micelles, that function by adsorbing to the interface between phases in a solution. This gives surfactants the unique ability to reduce the surface tension of the liquid in which it is dissolved. Surfactants are commonly used in lubricants, emulsifiers, adhesives, herbicides, and household detergents. However, as seen in recent years, synthetic surfactants, especially those found in herbicides, often contain toxic and carcinogenic chemicals, possibly causing harm to vast populations. In response, the necessity to synthesize non-toxic, renewable surfactants is evident. Using a three-step process, synthesizing renewable surfactants involves household sugars (monosaccharides and disaccharides) such as glucose and lactose, as well as fatty acids extracted from common cooking oils like canola and avocado oil. Gas Chromatography (GC-MS), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), and IR spectroscopy were used extensively to test for the purity and conformation of a desired product. Due to several 48-72 hour reaction procedures, the final surfactant product was not realized. However, each precursor component, including the non-polar hydrazone tail and polar carbohydrate head groups, was successfully synthesized using a vast diversity of carbohydrates and fatty acid combinations. In the future, a final reaction procedure between the polar carbohydrate head group and non-polar hydrazone tail would result in the final eco-friendly and renewable surfactant, which could then undergo experiments for relative efficacy. The successful synthesis of renewable, environmentally friendly, and effective surfactants is predicted to play a significant role in replacing toxic and carcinogenic surfactants used widely among several industries.