Water-based non-ionic polymeric surfactants as oil spill dispersants

In this paper, polyisobutylene succinic anhydride adduct (PIB-SA) was modif ied by esterification with polyethylene glycol (PEG 600, 1000 and 2000) to obtain mono- and diterminal polyoxy-alkynated PIB-SA. The monoterminal prod ucts were reacted with pentamethylene-hexamine (PMHA). The structures were confirmed by FT-IR and H-1 NMR analysis. The surface properties, interfacia l tension and the effectiveness in oil dispersion of the synthesized polyme ric surfactants are reported. The maximum efficiency of oil spill dispersan ts was reached when the surfactant molecule had two moities (polyoxyalkylen e and polyamine units). (C) 1999 Society of Chemical Industry.