DefinePK

Abstract

N-acyl arginine is a surfactant product based on fatty alcohol and the amino acid arginine. Direct amidation of dodecanol and arginine using organic solvents is one way to obtain N-acyl arginine. This study aimed to determine the relationship between variables to conversion, optimum reaction conditions, and the characteristics of the N-acyl arginine surfactant obtained. In this study, a preliminary study and optimization were carried out in which dodecanol, arginine, sodium methoxide, and tert-amyl alcohol were reacted to obtain the surfactant N-acyl arginine. Optimization research is carried out by reacting the substrate with a ratio of 1:1.32; 1:2; 1:3; 1:4; and 1:4.68, catalyst with a concentration of 1.64%; 3%; 5%; 7%, and 8.36%, as well as solvents with a ratio of 1:0.32; 1:1; 1:2; 1:3; and 1: 3.68, the reaction was carried out at 70oC for 3 hours at 350 rpm. The optimum conversion percentage obtained was 90% under the conditions of 4:1 substrate ratio, 3% catalyst concentration, and 3:1 solvent ratio. From the surfactant N-acyl arginine analysis, the acid number is 0.561, the saponification number is 0.4207, and the HLB value is 5.00.