A series of gemini quaternary ammonium surfactants containing carboxylate counterion with the formula C17H35CONH(CH2)2N+(CH3)2(CH2)2N+(CH3)2(CH2)2 NHCO C17H35·2Y (Y=HCOO-, CH3COO-, CH3CHOHCOO-) have been synthesized by a counterion conversion process and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and mass spectroscopy. It is found that these surfactants reduce the surface tension of water to a minimum value of 26.78 mN·m-1 at a concentration of 1.21 ×10-5 mol·L-1. TEM images reveal that aggregates with vesicles or tubular structure are spontaneously formed in these surfactants aqueous solution with the concentration of 1×10-3 mol·L-1. It is also found that they are effective corrosion inhibitors for A3 steel in acid solution and have superior antibacterial activity at a concentration of 0.1g·L-1.
Keywords: antibacterial activity; corrosion inhibition; gemini quaternary ammonium surfactant; surface activity.