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Synfacts 2006(11): 1116-1116  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-949472
Synthesis of Materials and Unnatural Products
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Switchable Surfactants

Contributor(s): Timothy M. Swager, Yong Yang
Y. Liu, P. G. Jessop*, M. Cunningham, C. A. Eckert, C. L. Liotta
Queen’s University, Kingston, Canada and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, USA
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Publication History

Publication Date:
24 October 2006 (online)

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Significance

Long-chain alkyl amidine compounds are shown to be switchable demulsifiers, while their amidinium bicarbonate salts are switchable surfactants. The interconversion between demulsifiers and surfactants is conveniently achieved by bubbling carbon dioxide or air. The amidinium surfactant is applied to emulsion polymerization of styrene. The charged surfactant can well stabilize the emulsion during polymerization and then be switched to neutral amidine simply by bubbling argon when the polymerization completes. As the result, the polymer is harvested more easily and greener than by conventional methods.