Germicidal effects structure

Quats are included in the list of surfactants for EOR, but technically they are used in other oil field operations, particularly in drilling muds. Their cationic nature, ability to emulsify oils plus potent germicidal activity make quats uniquely useful in mineral processing and oil applications. There is an abundance of environmental data on quats, not because of oil field operations, but rather because of their use as fabric softeners in detergents. The best known fabric softener and antistatic agent is ditaUow dimethyl ammonium chloride (DTDMAC). Emulsifiers commonly have a N-alkyltrimethylammonium chloride or N-alkylimidazoline chloride configuration, and germicides, such as benzalkonium chloride, typically have a N-alkyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride structure. The fate and effects of these multifunctional surfactants are detailed in several reviews [9, 55, 60, 61]. 

Quats Toxicity. The structure of the quats has a big effect on the toxicity as evidenced by germicidal activity associated with the many structures of quats [66]. The ecotoxicological evaluation of quats should consider if the quat s function is as a germicide or as a surfactant, or as a fabric softener/antistatic agent. Studies on quats toxicity are designed from the viewpoint that these compounds are present at low concentra-... 

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