Quaternary ammonium detergent compounds

This discussion emphasizes the need to understand the nature of the compound to interpret its sorption behavior. Many compounds of environmental significance are nonpolar and one tends to relate sorption to aqueous solubihty. The herbicide, Paraquat, by contrast shows a A oc of 1 x 10 despite having a high aqueous solubility (>600 gL ). This compound is a bipyridinium salt and the high tendency to sorb would be due to cation exchange not partitioning. A comparable response would be expected with quaternary ammonium detergents. 

Palmitic acid (hexadecanoic acid) is the source of the hexadecyl (cetyl) group in the following compounds. Each is a mild surface-acting germicide and fungicide and is used as a topical antiseptic and disinfectant. They are examples of quaternary ammonium detergents, commonly called "quats."... 

Cationic quaternary ammonium compounds such as distearyldimethylammonium-chloride (DSDMAC) used as a softener and as an antistatic, form hydrated particles in a dispersed phase having a similar structure to that of the multilayered liposomes or vesicles of phospholipids 77,79). This liposome-like structure could be made visible by electron microscopy using the freeze-fracture replica technique as shown by Okumura et al. 79). The concentric circles observed should be bimolecular lamellar layers with the sandwiched parts being the entrapped water. In addition, the longest spacings of the small angle X-ray diffraction pattern can be attributed to the inter-lamellar distances. These liposome structures are formed by the hydrated detergent not only in the gel state but also at relatively low concentrations. 

Cationic surfactants produce a positively charged surfactant ion in solution and are mainly quaternary nitrogen compounds such as amines and derivatives and quaternary ammonium salts. Owing to their poor cleaning properties, they are little used as detergents rather their use is a result of their bacteriocidal qualities. Relatively little is known about the mechanisms of biodegradation of these compounds. 

Protein False positives may occur with highly buffered or alkaline samples or from contamination with quaternary ammonium compounds (antiseptics, detergents). 

Fabric Softening. The single largest market for quaternary ammonium compounds is as fabric softeners. The use of quaternary surfactants as fabric softeners and static control agents can be broken down into three main household product types rinse cycle softeners tumble dryer sheets and detergents containing softeners, also known as softergents. 

The quaternary ammonium compounds (qv) are manufactured by the reaction of an alkyl halide with a tertiary amine. The alkyl halide may be short-chain, long-chain, or benzyl. Selection of a long-chain alkyl group yields structures with variable composition and greatly adds to the chemical complexity inherent in this group. Investigation of structure-activity relationships has led to claims for superior efficacy or compatibility, most notedly with anionic surfactants in disinfectant-detergent cleaner systems, of closely related compounds in the family. 

Surfactants, emulsifiers Dissolve lipids, disrupt membranes, denature proteins, and inactivate enzymes in high concentrations, and act as wetting agents Cationic detergents are used to sanitize utensils, anionic detergents are used to launder clothes and clean household objects, and quaternary ammonium compounds are sometimes used as an antiseptic on skin... 

The cationic detergents invariably contain amino compounds. The most widely used would be the quaternary ammonium salts, such as cetyltrimethylammonium chloride, a well-known germicide and di-stearyldimethylammonium chloride (DSDMAC), known as fabric softener for cotton diapers and as a laundry rinse-cycle fabric softener [4]. 

Use Additives for cosmetic creams, polymerization regulators for elastomers and plastics, detergents and viscosity-index improvers for lubricating oils, finishing and softening agents for textiles, preparation of quaternary ammonium compounds, surfactants, water evaporation control, and antifoam. 

Another investigation reported fabrics impregnated with quaternary ammonium compounds expressed vimcidal effects and significantly inactivated the VACV [99], A mixture of vimcidal compounds comprised of quaternary ammonium (bcnzalkonium chloride), a detergent (Triton X100) and citric acid inactivated VACV after a 20 min incubation [86],... 

Other Applications. The alcohols through Cg have applications as specialty solvents, as do derivatives of linear and branched hexanols. Inks, coatings, and dyes for polyester fabrics are other application areas for 2-ethylhexanol (63). Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate is used as a dielectric fluid to replace polychlorinated biphenyls. Trialkyl amines of the linear alcohols are used in solder fluxes, and hexanol is employed as a solvent in a soldering flux (64). Quaternary ammonium compounds of the plasticizer range alcohols are used as surfactants and fungicides, similarly to those of the detergent range alcohols. 

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