STUDY OF PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL AND COLLOIDAL PROPERTIES OF THE QUATERNARY AMMONIUM SALT OBTAINED FROM HEPTADECANOIC AND OCTADECANOIC ACIDS WITH TRIETHANOLAMINE

Abstract: Currently, surface-active agents (surfactants) have found widespread application in various industries, including detergents, foaming agents, emulsion stabilizers, fluorogens, hydrophobizers, and corrosion inhibitors. As a result, the synthesis of surfactants has become a critical area of study. This paper presents the results of an investigation into the oil-repelling and oil-dispersing properties of complex salts formed by heptadecane (HA) and octadecane (OA) acids with triethanolamine (TEA), in distilled, potable, and seawater contaminated with Balakhani oil. The study measured the surface activity of these complex salts at various concentrations using a tensiometer, and the elemental composition was determined through calculation methods. Infrared spectroscopy was employed to analyze the composition of the newly synthesized complex salts, confirming that the reaction followed the proposed scheme. The comparative study of the complex salts formed by HA and OA with TEA revealed that the OA – TEA complex salt demonstrated superior oil-dispersing properties, particularly in potable and seawater. Specifically, the HA- TEA complex salt reduced surface tension from 72.0 mN/m to 33.3 mN/m, whereas the OA-TEA complex salt reduced surface tension from 72.0 mN/m to 29.4 mN/m, indicating its higher surface activity. The elemental composition of the complex salts formed by both acids with TEA was calculated and revealed the following mass fractions: for HA-TEA (%): C 65.8, H 11.7, O 19.1, N 3.4; for OA-TEA (%): C 66.4, H 11.8, O 18.5, N 3.3. Solutions of the complex salts in various concentrations exhibited a mixed effect when tested in seawater contaminated with Balakhani oil. Both complex salts were soluble in ethyl and isopropyl alcohols. The study also highlighted that the OA-TEA complex salt, in particular, displayed promising characteristics in terms of its composition and performance in environmental applications.