Ionic Liquid Cationic Surfactants With a Decyl Hydrophobic Chain: Effects of Head Group and Counterion

ABSTRACT Quaternary ammonium‐type surfactants were synthesized by N‐alkylation reaction of ethanolamines with 1‐iododecane. These resulting cationic surfactants were subsequently converted into ionic liquid‐type cationic surfactants by replacing the iodide counterion with an acetate ion. The surface activities of those surfactants were determined using the droplet‐breaking method, while their specific electrical conductivities were measured by the conductometric method. Based on these measurements, the surface activity parameters of both surfactant classes were calculated and compared. The biocidal properties of the ionic liquid cationic surfactants against various bacteria and fungi were assessed using the disk diffusion method. Additionally, the petroleum‐collecting and petroleum‐dispersing abilities of the ionic liquid surfactants, containing acetate counterions, were evaluated by analyzing their efficiency in collecting a thin petroleum layer on the water surface.