Saponins: A Renewable and Biodegradable Surfactant From Its Microwave-Assisted Extraction to the Synthesis of Monodisperse Lattices

Abstract

Synthetic surfactants are widely used in emulsion polymerization, but it is increasingly desirable to replace them with naturally derived molecules with a reduced environmental burden. This study demonstrates the use of saponins as biodegradable and renewable surfactants for emulsion polymerization. This chemical has been extracted from soapnuts by microwave assisted extraction and characterized in terms of surfactant properties prior to emulsion polymerization. The results in terms of particle size distribution and morphology control have been compared to those obtained with classical nonionic (NP40) or anionic (SDS) industrial surfactants. Microwave-extracted saponins were able to lead to latexes as stable as standard PS latex, as shown by the CMC and CCC measurements. The saponin-stabilized PS particles have been characterized in terms of particle size and distribution by Dynamic Light Scattering and Asymmetrical Flow Field Flow Fractionation. Monomodal and monodispersed particles ranging from 250 to 480 nm in terms of diameter with a particle size distribution below 1.03 have been synthesized.

Optimization and extraction of pharmaceutical micro-pollutant - norfloxacin using emulsion liquid membranes

“…The FTIR results (Fig. 1) clearly indicated that the extract was saponin which is comparable with other researchers [15,16,25].…”

“…Soap nut or Sapindus indicus belongs to Sapindaceae family, is widely available in Asian countries and had been used as a traditional surfactant for cleansing hair and body for several years [15,16]. An untried and cheap surfactant saponin extracted from soap nut is employed in this study substituting synthetic surfactant.…”

A comparative analysis of a TiO2nanoparticle dispersion in various biological extracts

“…20,27 The saponin molecules adsorb on the TiO 2 NP surface via hydrophobic interaction and impart a steric stabilization to the dispersion. Saponin is considered as a non-ionic natural surfactant and is used in cosmetics and pharmaceutical products.…”

Investigations on Natural Surfactant obtained from Soap-Nuts through Spectrophotometric Interactions with Congo Red and Comparison with Commercial Surfactants

“…The worldwide large production of surfactants was increased year by year due to the technological development, ease of preparation and important applications [12]. 12.5 million tonnes of surfactants were produced worldwide in 2006 [13] whereas 3 million tonnes were produced in Western Europe in 2007 [14] and approximately 172 thousand tonnes of nonionic surfactants were consumed in 2010 in US alone [5]. Therefore, use of synthetic surfactants in various applications leads to secondary pollution.…”