Ferrocene-Based Cationic Surfactants: Surface and Antimicrobial Properties

• Published in: Journal of surfactants and detergents 2010-04, Vol.13 (2), p.165-172
• Main Authors: Hafiz, Amal A., Badawi, A. M., El-Deeb, F. I., Soliman, E. A., El-Awady, M. Y., Mohamed, D. E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adsorption; Amines; Ammonium; Ammonium salts; Antimicrobial activity; Antimicrobial agents; Apoptosis; Aquatic Pollution; Aqueous solutions; Bacteria; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Efficiency; Ferrocene amine salts; Ferrocenyl surfactants; Gram-positive bacteria; Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; Original Article; Physical Chemistry; Polymer Sciences; Staphylococcus infections; Surface activity; Surface tension; Surfaces and Interfaces; Surfactants; Thin Films; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control
• ISSN: 1097-3958; 1558-9293
• DOI: 10.1007/s11743-009-1140-8

A novel series of ferrocenyl surfactants was synthesized by the reaction of ferrocene disulfonic acid with different primary and tertiary fatty amines to produce the corresponding ammonium salts Fc[SO 3 − + NH 3 (CH 2 ) n CH 3 ] 2 , where n  = 9, 11, or 15 and Fc[SO 3 − + NH(CH 3 ) 2 (CH 2 ) n CH 3 ] 2 , where n  = 7 or 11, respectively, and where Fc = ferrocene. Chemical structures were confirmed by microelemental analysis, FTIR, and 1 H NMR spectroscopy. The critical micelle concentration of each prepared surfactant was determined using equilibrium surface tension. Furthermore, air/water interface parameters including effectiveness ( π CMC ), efficiency (Pc 20 ), maximum surface excess (Г max ), and minimum surface area ( A min ) were determined at 30, 40, and 50 °C. Thermodynamic parameters (Δ G °, Δ S °, and Δ H °) for both micellization and adsorption processes were recorded. The new synthesized surfactants were screened as antimicrobial agents against different bacterial and fungal organisms.