Coconut oil refinery waste utilization in sustainable development of biodegradable betaine surfactant

Abstract The increasing demand for environmentally friendly surfactants has led to the development of innovative, simplified and solvent-free synthesis methods. This study reports the preparation of 3-dimethylaminopropyl cocoyl betaine, a surfactant, using coconut oil refinery waste as the main raw material. A high yield of 90.46 % was obtained by a three-step esterification process using 3-dimethylaminopropanol and coconut oil deodoriser distillate. Structural analysis of the final product was carried out using NMR and Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy, together with evaluation of the surfactant properties. The analysis of the surfactant properties of 3-dimethylaminopropyl cocoyl betaine indicated its potential suitability for use in personal care and cosmetic formulations. This study highlights the importance of reusing coconut oil refinery waste to produce environmentally friendly surfactants, supporting the chemical industry’s use of renewable and sustainable resources.