Abstract
Surfactants are used in many applications, such as detergents, paints, toiletries and pharmaceuticals. The development of surfactants with excellent surface-active properties, additional functions, or good biodegradability has been desired. Therefore, chemocleavable surfactants, which decompose to give nonsurface-active species or other surfactants with different properties after fulfilling their original functions, have become the focus of great interest in the field of surfactant chemistry. In this review, chemocleavable surfactants bearing a 1,3-dioxolane ring or ester group were prepared from 1-O-alkylglycerols without any expensive reagents or special equipment. We clarified that they have good surface-active properties, and the decomposition function under acid or alkali conditions. Their biodegradabilities were higher than that of sodium dodecanoate. We used these surfactants as emulsifiers in emulsion polymerization. After the reaction, the emulsifier was decomposed by the addition of HCl or NaOH. And then the polymer was obtained easily. We discussed their detergency for clothes.
