Synthesis and Surface Activity of Long-Chain Alkylbenzenemethanol Polyether

A nonionic surfactant, namely long-chain alkylbenzenemethanol polyoxyethylene ether (RBMEO_n), was synthesized starting from long-chain alkylbenzene through a three-step route including Friedel-Crafts acylation, reductive reaction and alkoxylation. The structures of reaction intermediates, alkyl benzene ethanone and 4-alkyl-α-methyl-benzenemethanol, were identified by FT-IR and ¹H-NMR. The distribution of the EO length in RBMEO_n was characterized by ESI-MS. Many important surface active parameters were determined at 35±0.1 ^oC and were compared with those of structurally-related nonionic surfactants nonyl phenol ethoxylates (NPEO₁₀) and fatty alcohol ethoxylates (AEO₉). It is found that the surface activity of RBMEO₁₀ is somewhat superior to NPEO₁₀ and AEO₉.

Keywords: Alkylbenzenemethanol polyether, synthesis, surface activity