Bola and extended complex novel surfactants: synthesis and properties of an intrinsically non-foaming high surface active propoxylated bisphenol a phosphate ester salt surfactant

Lining Zhang; Zihang Qiao; Pinqi Feng; Nana Wang; Sanshan Li; Cun Zhou

doi:10.1515/tsd-2025-2683

Article

Bola and extended complex novel surfactants: synthesis and properties of an intrinsically non-foaming high surface active propoxylated bisphenol a phosphate ester salt surfactant

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Published/Copyright: December 5, 2025

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From the journal Tenside Surfactants Detergents Volume 63 Issue 1

Abstract

A novel non-foaming surfactant, propoxylated bisphenol A phosphate ester salt, integrating Extended and Bola-type surfactant characteristics, was synthesized via phosphorylation of propoxylated bisphenol A with phosphorus pentoxide. Its structure was characterized by FTIR and ¹H/³¹P NMR. The critical micelle concentration and heat resistance were investigated by using an automated surface tension meter and thermal gravimetric analyzer, and the surface properties, such as water solubility, emulsibility, and foaming, were studied and evaluated. The experimental results showed that the product was soluble in water at room temperature, its aqueous solution had two cmc points with polymer surfactant properties, and its γ_cmc was 32.97 and 32.70 mN m⁻¹, when the concentration was 1 % and 2 %, with good surface activity. It had excellent high-temperature resistance, with an initial decomposition temperature of 286.35 °C, and a maximum decomposition temperature of 295.66 °C. The thermal weight loss residue at 500 °C was 12.34 %, and the residual rate at 600–700 °C was stable at 10.85 %. The surfactant was intrinsically non-foaming, had high surface activity, strong emulsifying power, good penetration, excellent compatibility, and had good resistance to high temperature, acid, alkali, and oxidation.

Keywords: propoxylated bisphenol a; phosphate ester salt; surface activity; water solubility; intrinsic non-foaming

Corresponding author: Cun Zhou, School of Textile Science and Engineering, Tiangong University, 300387, Tianjin, China; and Tianjin Textile Fiber Interface Treatment Technology Engineering Center, 300270, Tianjin, China, E-mail:zhoucun@tiangong.edu.cn

Research ethics: Not applicable.
Informed consent: Not applicable.
Author contributions: Lining Zhang: Investigation, Writing - Original Draft, Visualization, Formal analysisResources. Zihang Qiao: Validation, Formal analysis. Feng Pinqi: nvestigation. Wang Nana: Data Curation. Shanshan Li: nvestigation. Cun Zhou: Conceptualization, Methodology, Investigation, Resources,Writing - Review & Editing, Project administration, Funding acquisition, Supervision.
Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: None declared.
Conflict of interest: The authors state no conflict of interest.
Research funding: None declared.
Data availability: Data will be made available on request.

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Received: 2025-06-05

Accepted: 2025-11-11

Published Online: 2025-12-05

Published in Print: 2026-01-23

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/tsd-2025-2683

Keywords for this article

propoxylated bisphenol a; phosphate ester salt; surface activity; water solubility; intrinsic non-foaming