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‘GREENER’ SURFACTANTS FROM BIO-BASED WASTE AS EFFICIENT ALTERNATIVES TO NONYLPHENOL ETHOXYLATES
Impact/Purpose:
The objectives of this research effort are to synthesize and characterize a novel class of surfactants based on polysaccharides as environmental friendly alternative to nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs). These surfactants will:
- Use renewable, non-toxic and preferably bio-based waste as starting materials.
- Be based on modifying naturally occurring polysaccharides.
- Be synthesized using sustainable methods (in accordance to principles of ‘green chemistry’) such as enzyme catalysis and microwave assisted synthesis.
- Be tested for efficacy as a drop-in replacement for NPEs in cleaning products.
Description:
All bio-based surfactants synthesized over the course of the project will be tested for their ability to lower the surface tension at the air-water interface using a Du Nüoy ring tensiometer. The cleaning efficiency of the surfactants will be tested at the Toxics Use Reduction Institute’s Surface Solutions Lab (TURI SSL). The research team will also work with Alpha Chemical Services Inc. to evaluate the cleaning efficiency of the polysaccharide-based surfactants as a drop-in replacement in detergent applications.