Synthesis and Performance Evaluation of the High‐Alkali‐Resistant Glycosyl Surfactant

ABSTRACT To address the poor stability of nonylphenyl ethoxylate (NP10), phenolic ether glycoside NEG, as a novel high‐temperature and high‐alkali resistant surfactant, was successfully synthesized by an acetal reaction using low‐cost and renewable anhydrous glucose and NP10. This synthetic route was mild, simple and efficient without post‐treatment. The structure of NEG was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and high‐resolution mass spectrometry. The effects of glucose grafting amounts on the cloud point, viscosity, surface properties, and application properties were systematically compared with NP10. The cloud point of NP10 increased by approximately 10°C and the viscosity decreased due to the grafting of glucose. Furthermore, in a highly concentrated alkaline solution (360 g/L), NEG exhibited excellent stability, whereas NP10 showed significant turbidity. The NEG maintained a comparable level with NP10 in surface tension, contact angle, wettability, emulsification, and decontamination. To further observe the self‐assembly behavior of NP10 and NEG, the micellar morphology and size were investigated. The results revealed that the micellar morphology of NP10 transitioned from spherical to square and finally to worm‐like structures with the increase of surfactant concentration. Also, with the increasing glucose grafting amounts, the micelle size of NEG exhibited a prominent increase.