Synthesis of biodegradable lauric acid ester Quaternary ammonium salt cationic surfactant and its utilization as calico softener

Esterquat cationic surfactant was considered as a new type of biodegradable material utilized as a textile softening agent. In this work, cationic lauric ester quaternary ammonium salt (N-(2-hydroxyl-3-lauryloyloxypropyl) dimethyldodecylammonium chloride (HDAC)) was obtained via reaction between lauric acid and N-(2,3-epoxypropyl) dodecyldimethyl ammonium chloride (DCSA) synthesized from dodecyl dimethylammonium (DTA) and epichlorohydrin (EPIC). The optimum synthesis conditions for DCSA were found as mixing the same amount of DTA and EPIC in acetone at 25 °C for 24 h. The crude DCSA was subsequently re-crystallized, prior to the reaction with lauric acid at the same amount for 8 h at 60 °C. Pure HDAC was consequently prepared after refrigeration. The critical micelle concentration and surface tension of the quatester surfactant HDAC were determined respectively. The structure of HDAC was measured using infrared spectroscopy. The softening property of HDAC was also present compared to the pristine cotton fabric.