Properties of aqueous solution of sodium cyclododecyl sulfate

Abstract Sodium cyclododecyl sulfate was prepared from cyclododecyl alcohol and chlorosulfonic acid to investigate the physical and surface active properties of the surfactant. Its Krafft point, critical micelle concentration (CMC), surface tension, emulsifying power, wetting time and dispersing power were examined and compared with those of sodium dodecyl sulfate which has a linear structure and contains the same number of carbon atoms in the hydrophobic portion. The sodium cyclododecyl sulfate, in contrast to the sodium dodecyl sulfate, had a higher (about two times) Krafft point, much larger (about 10 times) CMC, showed the same excellent wetting property, but exhibited lower emulsifying power. Also the sodium cyclododecyl sulfate is more insoluble (as shown by the Krafft point) than the sodium dodecyl sulfate, while calcium ion stability of the cyclododecyl sulfate surfactant is greater than that of the linear anionic surfactant.