A series
of 13 well-defined alkylglucuronamides [AGUA] surfactants
with hydrophobic chains consisting of fatty alcohols (C8, C12, or C16) involved in a glucosidic bond
has been synthesized in two steps from glucuronic acid or glucuronolactone.
The nonionic polar heads are a sugar unit with an amide function derived
from five different amines, i.e., methylamine, ammonia, ethanolamine,
ethoxyethanolamine, and aminopropanediol. Their CMC values present
variations from 0.03 to 29 mM, and their hydrophilic/lipophilic behaviors
have been compared to conventional dodecyl polyethoxylated surfactants
(C12E
j
) using the PIT-slope
methodology. They cover a large scale of the corresponding C12E
j
with j varying from
5 to 8. Regarding functional properties, the novel alkylglucuronamides
exhibit good foaming properties. Last but not least, two of them could
be classified as easily biodegradable according to respirometric tests.