Synthesis, characterization, biodegradability and surfactant properties of bio-sourced lauroyl poly(glycerol-succinate) oligoesters

Fully bio-sourced lauroyl oligoester surfactants, based on poly(glycerol-succinate) as polar head group with controllable sizes and topologies were prepared without solvent nor catalyst using A2 + B′B2 + AR and A2 + B′B2 + B′BR synthesis approaches. The alkyl chain was either derived from lauric acid or from glycerol α-monolaurate. The oligoester surfactants were characterized by quantitative 13C NMR, acid values and size exclusion chromatography. Their surface activity, foamability, foam stability, wetting power, solubilization properties and biodegradability were investigated proving their potential use in a wide set of applications in replacement of petrochemical surfactants. This study underlines the relative impacts of the succinic acid/glycerol monomer ratios and of the strategies of synthesis on the physico-chemical behaviour, on the biodegradability and on the stability of the lauroyl poly(glycerol-succinate) surfactants.

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► Lauroyl poly(glycerol-succinate) oligoesters as novel surfactants.
► Fully bio-sourced polar head groups based on glycerol and succinic acid.
► Controllable size and topology of the poly(glycerol-succinate) polar head groups.
► Design of a large range of biodegradable surfactants depending on reaction conditions.
► Good properties of foamability, wetting and excellent micellar solubilisation.