Modular Synthesis of Amphiphilic Molecules - 7 New Route to Long Chain N-Alkylbetaines Study of Their Adsorption Onto Wool Fibers

Anionic and cationic surfactants have formed the subject of numerous physicochemical investigations, but few studies have been devoted to amphoteric amphiphilic agents. In a series of investigations on new synthetic routes to novel surfactants, we devised a simple method for the preparation of N-alkylbetaïnes with different chain lengths: In addition, we investigated the adsorption of these compounds onto wool fibers in aqueous media. The effects of pH, temperature and chain length on the adsorption isotherms were investigated. A relationship between the behavior of the surfactant at the solid/liquid interface and its behavior in solution was detected. Maximum adsorption was observed for values close to the critical micellar concentration.