ABSTRACT
New generation surfactants exhibit a variety of physical-chemical properties, making them more performance oriented compared to the classical ones. Their characters arise from the need to get products having properties useful for ad hoc applications. According to the rules required by national or international standards, new generation surfactants are obtained from renewable sources, using green and low-cost chemicals. Biodegradable, high added value, and versatile materials are, thus, produced. Among them alkyl glycosides (indicated as AGs), alkyl thio-glycosides (ATGs), alkyl maltosides (AMs), their homologues and
derivatives, betaines (zwitter-ionic surfactants), Gemini (“twin” species), and Bolas (bearing two polar groups linked to both ends of long alkyl chains) are the most promising new generation surfactants. Bolas and Gemini may have glycosidic polar head groups as well [1].
