Lauryldimethylamine oxide Lauryldimethylamine oxide Lauryldimethylamine oxide (LDAO), also known as dodecyldimethylamine oxide (DDAO), is an amine oxide based nonionic surfactant, with a C (dodecyl) alkyl tail. It is one of the most frequently-used surfactants of this type. Like other amine oxide based surfactants it is antimicrobial, being effective against common bacteria such as "S. aureus" and "E. coli", however it is also non-denaturing and may be used to solubilize proteins. At high concentrations, DDAO forms liquid crystalline phases. Despite having only one polar atom that is able to interact with water – the oxygen atom (the quaternary nitrogen atom is hidden from
Propylene oxide Propylene oxide Propylene oxide is an organic compound with the molecular formula CHCHCHO. This colourless volatile liquid with an odour resembling ether, is produced on a large scale industrially. Its major application is its use for the production of polyether polyols for use in making polyurethane plastics. It is a chiral epoxide, although it is commonly used as a racemic mixture. This compound is sometimes called 1,2-propylene oxide to distinguish it from its isomer 1,3-propylene oxide, better known as oxetane. Industrial production of propylene oxide starts from propylene. Two general approaches are employed, one involving hydrochlorination and the other involving