Spacer Effects in Novel Cationic Surfactants as a Primordial Parameter for an Optimal Inhibition of SRB

• Published in: Journal of surfactants and detergents Vol. 10; no. 4; pp. 225 - 230
• Main Author: Ali, Hanan El‐Sharkawy
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.12.2007; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Ammonium; Bacteria; Biocides; Biocorrosion; Biofilms; Spacer effect and cooling water systems (MIC); Sulfate reduction; Sulfate‐reducing bacteria; Sulfate‐reducing biocides; Surfactants
• ISSN: 1097-3958; 1558-9293
• DOI: 10.1007/s11743-007-1036-4

Four bisquaternary ammonium surfactants, low toxic compounds capable of inhibiting sulfate‐reducing bacteria (SRB), were synthesized and characterized by spectral studies IR,1H‐NMR and elemental analyses. The growth of the reference SRB (Desulfomonas pigra) was shown to be completely inhibited by bisquaternary ammonium surfactants. Structure–activity relationships are discussed, as well as the critical micelle concentration (cmc), the saturated adsorption amount (Г∞) and the minimum average area per surfactant molecule (Amin). The influence of the hydrophobic chain length, the number of methylene groups, and the influence of that spacer group on the surfactant properties of synthesized bisquaternary ammonium compounds are discussed. The presence of a long hydrophobic alkyl chain was a primordial parameter for optimal biological activity. The number of SRB and their inhibition efficiency were subject to considerable parameters, maximum values being noted in presence of all paper biocides. A direct relationship has found between the number of SRB and Amin.