Efficient and Versatile Flow Synthesis of New Nonionic Glucamide Surfactants

Surfactants are virtually used across all industries where they can fulfill a multitude of roles, such as detergents, emulsifiers, and dispersants, as well as wetting, foaming, and flotation agents. N-Acyl-N-alkyl-d-glucamides are nonionic surfactants that can be synthesized from inexpensive natural resources. They have a broad range of hydrophilic–lipophilic balance (HLB) values, depending on the length of the alkyl chain. This chemical diversity and versatility allow customization of surfactant properties, making these chemicals useful for a diverse range of industrial purposes. In this work, six N-acyl-N-alkyl-d-glucamides have been prepared by exploiting immobilized scavengers and reagents in a flow-batch mode. Moreover, the interfacial properties (both surface and interfacial tensions) of two selected glucamide-based surfactants were evaluated.