Synthesis and characterization of newly cationic surfactants based on 2-(2-(dimethylamino)ethoxy)ethanol: physiochemical, thermodynamic and evaluation as biocide

Three newly cationic surfactants based on 2-(2-(dimethyl amino) ethoxy) ethanol were prepared through direct quaternization with different alkyl bromide. The chemical structures of the synthesized surfactants were confirmed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The critical micelle concentrations have been estimated using two different techniques surface tension and conductometric measurements at three different temperatures 25, 45 and 65 °C. The surface parameters were found hydrophobic and temperature dependent. The tail elongation and raising the solution temperature has a reverse effect on the critical micelle concentration. The calculated thermodynamic parameters proved that the synthesized surfactant favor the adsorption at the interfaces than aggregation in micelles. The synthesized surfactant HEDDB has the maximum antibiotic effect against the tested gram positive and negative bacteria and even higher than the used drug. The surfactant HEDHB has higher antifungal activity than the reference drug. The simply synthesized surfactant showed a high effect against sulfate reducing bacteria at low concentration.