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Designing the Head Group of Switchable Surfactants

This thesis is an investigation into the development of amidine and guanidine based compounds to be employed as switchable surfactants. The surface activity of these molecules can be triggered by reaction with a benign gas, CO2. The ultimate application of these surfactants was to be used as emulsifying and demulsifying agents of crude oil and water emulsions. Synthesis and characterization of the following desired bases: N’-octyl-N,N-dimethylacetamidine (1), 2-octyl-2-imidazoline (2), 1-methyl-2-octyl-2-imidiazoline (3), N’-(4-heptylphenyl)-N,N-dimethylacetamidine (4), N’-(4-(octyloxy)phenyl)-N,N-dimethylacetamidine (5), N’-(4-(methyloxy)phenyl)-N,N-dimethylacetamidine (6), and N-octyl-N',N',N",N"-tetramethylguanidine (7) was carried out. Their solubility in water was quantified with NMR spectroscopy. All bases were reacted with CO2 and H2O to form bicarbonate salts, of which in situ characterization was achieved by IR and NMR spectroscopy. Percent conversion to the protonated forms at elevated temperatures was determined using NMR spectroscopy. A direct correlation between switchability and basicity was observed, as the strongest bases possessed the largest conversions to the protonated species, even at higher temperatures. The enthalpy of protonation was determined for each base through calorimetry experiments. These compounds were tested as demulsifying surfactants of crude oil and water emulsions. Demulsifying ability was determined to differ greatly with the head group structure of the various surfactants. / Thesis (Master, Chemistry) -- Queen's University, 2009-10-27 16:56:13.631

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:OKQ.1974/5294
Date28 October 2009
CreatorsSCOTT, LAUREN
ContributorsQueen's University (Kingston, Ont.). Theses (Queen's University (Kingston, Ont.))
Source SetsLibrary and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada
LanguageEnglish, English
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis
Format9364928 bytes, application/pdf
RightsThis publication is made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws without written authority from the copyright owner.
RelationCanadian theses

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