Synthesis and characterisation of a novel surfactant, sodium geranyl sulphate

An anionic surfactant, sodium geranyl sulphate (sodium 3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienyl sulphate), was synthesised from the natural extracted monoterpenol, geraniol. The final product yield is 51.5% after recrystallisation. The cis/trans isomer reduced the surface tension of water to 33 ± 0 mN m−1 and yielded a critical micelle concentration of 89 ± 7 mM.