Surface Properties of Glucose-Based Surfactants and Their Application in Textile Dyeing with Natural Dyes

In this study, propylene glycol-based glycosides were obtained using an acetalization reaction in which glucose was first reacted with propylene glycol. Subsequently, the propylene glycol glycoside was reacted with alkyl glycidyl ether of varying carbon chain lengths (i.e., 08-G, 10-G, 12-G, 14-G, and 16-G) to synthesize a series of glucose-based biodegradable surfactants. The experimental results show that the surface activity of the C-8-C-12 glucose-based surfactants increases with the carbon chain length. However, the surface activity of the C-14-C-16 glucose-based surfactants decreased as the carbon chain length increased. Among all the surfactants, the C-12 glucose-based surfactant exhibited the most efficient emulsification ability, lowest surface tension, lowest fluorescence intensity, highest zeta potential, and good emulsification stability. The glucose-based surfactants were used as additives in natural plant dyes made from turmeric or henna to dye wool fabrics. Higher color strengths were observed in the C-14 glucose-based surfactant.