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Title: GEMINI SOPHOROLIPIDS, A NEW VARIETY OF GLYCOSURFACTANTS

Author
item Zerkowski, Jonathan
item Solaiman, Daniel
item Ashby, Richard - Rick
item Foglia, Thomas

Submitted to: American Chemical Society National Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2004
Publication Date: 8/1/2004
Citation: Zerkowski, J.A., Solaiman, D., Ashby, R.D., Foglia, T.A. 2004. Gemini sophorolipids, a new variety of glycosurfactants [abstract]. American Chemical Society National Meeting. Paper No. 82.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Sophorolipids are glycosides of hydroxy fatty acids that can be produced microbially in good yield from inexpensive agricultural byproducts. As part of a program geared toward utilization of these materials, we are exploring chemical modification of sophorolipids into oligomeric surfactants. A variety of linking units can be used to join sophorolipids into 'gemini' structures, which in other systems have been shown to possess improved surfactant properties. The spacers we are using, constructed from oligoamides and/or epichlorohydrin-derived units, offer tunability of hydrophilicity and length. They also provide good structural diversity for introducing other functionality. A stepwise synthetic approach permits construction of homo- or heterodimers. The details of our synthetic work and surface-tension measurements will be presented. Work toward trimeric sophorolipids is ongoing; progress in that area will also be discussed.