Evaluation of Some Properties of Violet Plant (securidaca longepedunculata) Roots as a Surfactant.

摘要

Violet Plant (Securidaca longependunculata) Roots (VPR) has been known to be used traditionally as a natural surfactant. This work was designed to evaluate the properties of VPR as a natural surfactant by measuring its surface tension using an improviseddrop weight method at different concentrations. The paper also discusses the foam study using Ross - mile method within a stipulated time range and the Saponin content using a Soxhlet Extractor. These properties were compared with the properties of somecommercial/synthetic surfactants like Sample A and B. The drop weight method used to measure surface tension value at a concentration range of 0.1 g/100 ml to 0.8 g/100 ml yielded 70.28 N/m to 59.72 N/m for VPR while Samples A and B gave 66.02 N/m to 27.00 N/m and 58.49N/m to 26.60N/m respectively. The surface tension was observed to be decreasing with increase in the concentration of VPR which was similar to Sample A and B. The foam production and stability was determined for VPR, Sample A and B at aconcentration range of 0.1 g/100 ml to 3 g/ ml. An initial foam height of 3.5 cm to 6.0 cm, 4.5 cm to 5.6 cm and 4.2 to 5.7 cm was obtained for VPR, Sample A and B at the same concentration range respectively. For all the surfactants, foam study decreases with time but faster in VPR showing its low level of biodegradability. Also, at a concentration of 0.1 g/ml and 5 g/ml, the sorption behavior of VPR, Sample A and B gave value of 72.02 N/m and 62.15 N/m, 70.62 N/m and 44.39 N/m, and 73.59 N/m and 48.09N/m respectively. At 5 g/100 ml VPR yielded high percentage (%) saponin content. The natural saponins present in the roots are responsible for the superior surfactant quality of VPR. These observations indicate that the properties are in conformity withthe existing commercial/synthetic surfactants as such VPR could be regarded as a natural surfactant for its remarkable surface properties. By comparing synthetic surfactants (Samples A and B) with natural surfactant (VPR) the results obtained showed remarkable surface properties with VPRhaving high amphiphilic power better than most petrochemical-based commercial/synthetic surfactants. VPR could be used as a wetting, foaming and cleansing agent. Also as a natural product it could be eco-friendly and biodegradable than the commercial products available in the market. Finally, this work could offer some outlets for utilizing VPR as a surfactant in many industrial applications.