Coconut-Based Methyl Ester Sulfonate for Eco-Friendly Textile Scouring

Abstract

The textile industry faces increasing pressure to adopt sustainable practices while maintaining product quality and economic viability. This study investigates the synthesis and application of methyl ester sulfonate (MES) derived from coconut fatty acid distillate (CFAD) as an eco-friendly alternative to conventional petroleum-based surfactants in textile scouring processes. CFAD, a renewable byproduct of coconut oil refining rich in medium-chain fatty acids, was converted to MES through acid-catalyzed esterification followed by sulfonation using sodium bisulfite. The synthesized MES exhibited excellent surface activity with surface tension reduction to 35.21 mN/m at 0.1% concentration, 64% emulsifying index, and superior biodegradability characteristics. Performance evaluation on cotton hosiery fabric, wool fibers, and polyester fabric demonstrated that MES achieved comparable or superior results to commercial surfactants. At 5.0% concentration, MES showed enhanced capillary rise (3.5 cm), improved whiteness index (68.48), and effective grease removal in wool scouring (15.8% weight loss) with reduced yellowness index (14.6). The bio-based MES surfactant offers significant environmental advantages including enhanced biodegradability, reduced aquatic toxicity, and utilization of renewable agricultural waste, making it a promising sustainable alternative for textile wet processing applications while maintaining industrial performance standards.