GLYCERYL BISETHER SULFATES .2. PERFORMANCE PROPERTIES

Traditional structure vs. performance relationships have been thorough ly investigated for alcohol ether sulfates (AES) wherein hydrophobe ch ainlength and degree of ethoxylation served as variables for structure variance. Therefore, a series of molecules, 1,3-bis-(alkylethylenoxy) -propane-2-yl sodium sulfates or glyceryl bisether sulfates (GBES), an alogous to AES but with a centrally located hydrophile structure, was synthesized and evaluated for its cloth detergency, foaming and wettin g properties. Performance test results are presented as response surfa ces in the two variables mentioned in addition to comparisons to commo n surfactants. The centrally located hydrophile structures exhibited v arying surfactant and performance properties, with increasing detergen cy performance shown by higher molecular weight GBES molecules: Optimu m foaming and wetting performance was produced by a range of structure s roughly given by C(n)EO(n-6) for n = 6-8.