Abstract: Three kinds of novel sulfobetaine amphoteric surfactants with different hydrophobic groups were synthesiszed. Their structures were characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy. The surface tensions of the product in dilute aqueous solutions were measured at 25 ℃ by drop-volume method and then the critical micelle concentration(cmc) and surface tension at the critical micelle concentration(γcmc) were determined. The effects of the concentration and temperature on their foam properties were investigated by Ross-Miles method. Meanwhile the emulsifying properties of three kinds of sulfobetaines were investigated by a water diversion method. The experimental results showed that an increase of the aromatic ring size in the alkyl chain increased the critical micelle concentration and surface tension at the critical micelle concentration. However, with the increase of the aromatic ring size, the adsorption of arylalkyl surfactants began to weaken. As the mass concentration of three kinds of surfactants raised, the foaming power increased firstly, and then remained at a certain value. The foam stability was enhanced gradually with increasing the concentration. As the temperature increased, the foaming power was heightened significantly, while foam stability decreased. As the concentration increased, the emulsifying power of three kinds of surfactants increased firstly and then stayed to a certain value.

Key words: sulfobetaine, synthesis, surface properties, foaming property, emulsifying property