Alkenyl Succinic Anhydride Structure Influences the Surface Activities of Gelatin Derivatives

In this study, sodium hydroxide was employed to decompose animal gelatin. The gelatin hydrolysate was then reacted with polyisobutenyl succinic anhydride, containing a hydrophilic substituent, to produce a series of gelatin derivatives (GD) that featured both hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups, thereby displaying the behavior of surfactants. The structures of the synthesized surfactants were examined using infrared spectroscopy and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy; the basic surface properties, including surface tension, contact angle, emulsifying capacity, and foamability, were also determined. The synthesized GD surfactants had superior surface activities. In addition, the surface activities of the GD. increased upon increasing the length of the hydrophobic unit and the molecular weight. These GD exhibited good foamability and emulsifying capacity, with the GD containing PBMA 320 possessing the greatest surface activity.