Surfactants Nitrogen Derivatives Amine Oxides

AKZO CHEMICALS INC. Industrial Surfactants Nitrogen Derivatives Amine Oxides  

Bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-cocoalkylamine oxides TSCA Number 61791-47-7 Amine Oxide, % Min. 49 Amine, Max. 2.5 

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The only cationic surfactant (Fig. 23) found in any quantity in the environment is ditallow dimethylammonium chloride (DTDMAC), which is mainly the quaternary ammonium salt distearyldimethylammonium chloride (DSDMAC). The organic chemistry and characterization of cationic surfactants has been reported and reviewed [330 - 332 ]. The different types of cationic surfactants are fatty acid amides [333], amidoamine [334], imidazoline [335], petroleum feed stock derived surfactants [336], nitrile-derived surfactants [337], aromatic and cyclic surfactants [338], non-nitrogen containing compounds [339], polymeric cationic surfactants [340], and amine oxides [341]. 

Prior to the availability of straight-chain, petroleum-based surfactants, the sole sources of raw materials for cationic surfactants were vegetable oils and animal fats. All those materials could be considered to be derivatives of fatty amines of one, two, or three alkyl chains bonded directly or indirectly to a cationic nitrogen group. The most important classes of these cationics are the simple amine salts, quaternary ammonium compounds, and amine oxides ... 

The basic physico-chemical properties of the fatty amine surfactants drive their utilities as adjuvants. Such molecules consist of a water-insoluble hydrophobic unit, in this case derived from tallow fatty acid. The water-soluble unit of the molecules consist of two chains of polymeric alkoxides, in these cases ethylene oxide and/or another alkylene oxide, such as propylene oxide. A nitrogen atom in the middle of the molecule connects the water-soluble and water-insoluble parts. Due to the electronic properties of nitrogen with respect to the carbon atom connectors which are usual in surfactants, the molecule has an overall cationic character, thus resulting in improved substantivity (adherence) to the leaf surface. 

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