Amino acid surfactants belong to the group of anionic surfactants. Their molecules are made of polar amino acids (hydrophilic moieties) and long-chain compounds that are hydrophobic. They are made on the basis of biomimetics – raw materials that mimic the chemical compounds of natural origin. The fatty acids derived from vegetable raw materials are also used for the production of amino acid surfactants.
Derivatives of acrylic acid, also known as acrylates, are salts and esters of acrylic and methacrylic acid. They contain a vinyl group bonded to the carboxyl group. These are polymerizable compounds due to the presence of an active double bond in their structure. They are one of the most popular monomers used in the production of polymer plastics.
Quaternary ammonium compounds, also known as quats, consist of a positively charged nitrogen atom with four substituents, carbon groups. Substituents covalently bound to the nitrogen atom may be aliphatic, aromatic or mixed. Another name for this group is quaternary ammonium salts. These compounds belong to the group of cationic surfactants.
Sulfosuccinates belonging to the group of anionic surfactants are derivatives of succinic acid from the group of dicarboxylic acids. These compounds are synthesized in the reaction of maleic anhydride with alcohols. The mono- and diesters obtained are then reacted with sodium sulphate to obtain salts, i.e. sodium sulfosuccinates.
