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.