NATURE OF THE RESEARCH

The research involved the synthesis of novel glycolipids, by the glycosylation of the primary alcohols such as geraniol, phytanol and farnesol. the phase behaviour of these glycolipids is being studied with a view to determine the type of liquid crystalline phases they form. Techniques such as polarising microscopy, XRD, and DSC were used to characterise the type of the phases it forms in solution, whether lamellar or cubic liquid crystalline phase.

The alkyl polyglucosides are industrially important compounds and find applications in the manufacture of household cleaning detergents. Also, they are mild and biodegradable, and hence are environment friendly surfactants.