The dicarboxylic anhydrides are used in preparation of surfactants.
Among these succinic anhydride is considered as a good precursor, or
starting material for production of surface active agents. Three types of
nonionic surfactants were prepared with this compound. 1) Succinic
anhydride was esterified with ethoxylated fatty alcohols (C8–C18with 3–
10 mole of ethylene oxide) producing diester type nonionic surfactant.
2) The hydrophilic part of nonionic surfactants was produced by
ethoxylation of fatty alcohol (C6–C18) succinate half ester in the presence
of Na2CO3 catalyst. 3) or by amidation (with ethanol amine) and
ethoxylation of the half ester in the presence of K10 clay catalyst. The
structures of the prepared new nonionic surfactants were confirmed by
spectroscopic tools, their surface properties and biodegradability were
determined. All types of nonionic surfactants prepared have good surface
properties. The nonionics produced with K10 clay catalyst has superior
surface properties compared to others having the same number of ethylene
oxide and substrate