Abstract A novel series of hydroxyethyl group-containing quaternary ammonium salts were synthesized from mono-, di-, tri-alkyl tertiary amines, hydrochloric acid and ethylene oxide by a two-step process with mild reaction conditions. The structures of the quaternary ammonium salts were characterized by infrared spectroscopy and 1 H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The surface tensions at the critical micelle concentrations were ...
