The synthesis and performance of anionic gemini surfactants

Gemini surfactants possess two hydrophobic tails and two hydrophilic head g roups separated by a spacer chain. Computer simulations and literature data suggest that these surfactants may be cost-effective in areas such as laun dry detergent formulations, soil clean-up and enhanced oil recovery. As pot ential pathways to anionic gemini surfactants may be accessible from deterg ent alcohol and olefin feedstocks, an exploratory study has been instigated into their synthesis and performance aspects. The performance properties o f model anionic geminis, combined with the complexity of the used and the e nvisaged synthesis routes, have led us to conclude that the potential of th ese molecules lies predominantly in specialised surfactant applications.