ABSTRACT
Anionic and cationic surfactants have formed the subject of numerous physicochemical investigations, but few studies have been devoted to amphoteric amphiphilic agents. In a series of investigations on new synthetic routes to novel surfactants, we devised a simple method for the preparation of N-alkylbetaïnes with different chain lengths:
In addition, we investigated the adsorption of these compounds onto wool fibers in aqueous media. The effects of pH, temperature and chain length on the adsorption isotherms were investigated. A relationship between the behavior of the surfactant at the solid/liquid interface and its behavior in solution was detected. Maximum adsorption was observed for values close to the critical micellar concentration.