Enhancing water solubility of N-dodecyl-d-gluconamide surfactant using borax

Abstract The N-dodecyl gluconamide surfactant (C 12 GA) was synthesized and characterized by infrared and 1 H NMR spectroscopy. The solubility, surface activity and rheology in aqueous solution of mixed C 12 GA and borax were investigated by surface tension measurements, transmission electron microscopy and rheometry. The results show that borax was a good solubilizing agent for C 12 GA. B(OH) − 4 acted as a crosslinking agent to form network structure gels based on complexes with an increase in the borax and C 12 GA concentrations. The produced gels were temperature sensitive. The solubilization mechanisms of borax on C 12 GA were also discussed.