Sulfonated surfactants obtained from furfural

Furfural obtained from pentose containing biomass such as hemicelluloses is subjected to photooxygenation. The resulting hydroxyfuranone obtained in high yields undergoes acetalization with fatty alcohols. Using NaHSO3, surfactants are obtained by addition of a sulfonate group to alpha,beta-unsaturated carboxyl or carbonyl compounds. Addition occurred either at the C=C double bond (6) or at the aldehyde function (7). Compared to conventional surfactants of this type, the resulting compounds possess similar good detergent properties. In the case of compound family 6 and when compared to the corresponding alkylsulfate and alkylsulfonate surfactants, even lower critical micelle concentrations (CMC) are observed. Biodegradation of the new surfactants was determined according to the OECD Test guideline 301 F. Compounds of family 6 are biodegradable. Biodegradation of compounds of family 7 stopped after 10 days.