Alkyl polyglucoside microemulsion phase behavior

We review several key elements of alkyl polyglucoside (C_mG_n) microemulsion phase behavior. The low solubility of C_mG_n surfactants in oils such as alkanes makes producing C_mG_n microemulsions and subsequent study of their phase behavior difficult. Increasing the solubility of C_mG_n in oil is therefore helpful for the systematic study of C_mG_n-based microemulsion formulations. To this end, the role of cosurfactants in producing microemulsions with water, alkanes, and n-alkyl β-d-glucopyranosides is first discussed. Adding C₁₀βG₁ to mixtures of water–alkane–ethoxylated alcohol surfactants (C_iE_j) produces a region of the three-phase body (a ‘chimney’) that is independent of temperature; thus C_mβG₁ are not completely soluble in the co-oil formed of alkane and C_iE_j at higher temperatures. Then, through a novel approach using oxygenated ether oils (C_kOC₂OC_k), microemulsions are formed with water, C_kOC₂OC_k, and C_mβG₁ and the phase behavior studied as a function of temperature and composition. Increased C_mβG₁ solubility in the more hydrophilic ether oils produces patterns of phase behavior in water–C_kOC₂OC_k–C_mβG₁ mixtures that are identical to those observed in water–alkane–C_iE_j mixtures. Using the water–ether oil–C_mβG₁ mixtures as a base case, the role of C_mG_n surfactant structure in setting C_mG_n microemulsion phase behavior is explored. The solubility of the α-d anomer (n-alkyl α-d-glucopyranosides, C_mαG₁) in water is much less than that of the β-d surfactant, and these solubility boundaries extend to high surfactant and oil concentrations in water–C_kOC₂OC_k–C_mαG₁ mixtures. Adding C_mG₂ compounds to water–C_kOC₂OC_k–C_mβG₁ mixtures shifts the phase behavior to high temperatures, again demonstrating the extreme hydrophilic nature of the sugar headgroup. Finally, adding small amounts of ionic alkyl sulfate surfactants to water–C_kOC₂OC_k–C_mβG₁ mixtures dramatically reduces the total amount of surfactant needed to form a single-phase microemulsion.     

Effects of nonionic sugar surfactants on the phase transition of DPPC membranes

The influence of newly synthesized N-alkanoyl-N-methyllactitolamines (decanoyl [C₁₀MELA], lauoroyl [C₁₂MELA] and miristoyl [C₁₄MELA]) on the thermotropic phase transition of phosphatidylcholine bilayer was compared with common sugar-based surfactants N-dodecyl-β-d-glucopyranoside [C12G1] and decanoyl-N-methyl glucamide [MEGA-10]. The results indicate that C_nMELA are very active at the membrane surface and disturb the phospholipid bilayer structure less than commercially used MEGA-10 and C12G1.     

1-Hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium Ionic Liquid as a New Cationic Surfactant for Separation of Phenolic Compounds by MEKC

The ionic liquid 1-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([C₁₆MIm]Br) has been used as a novel cationic surfactant for separation of phenolic compounds, including quinol, phloroglucinol, resorcinol, phenol, p-cresol, and m-nitrophenol, by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC). The effects of buffer concentration and pH, concentration of [C₁₆MIm]Br, and applied potential were studied. Use of the optimized buffer (25 mmol L^?1 NaH₂PO₄), 10 mmol L^?1 [C₁₆MIm]Br, and an applied potential of ?15 kV enables optimum separation with regard to resolution and migration time. The phenolic compounds were detected at 214 nm. The micelle of this long-alkyl-chain imidazolium ionic liquid acts as a pseudo-stationary phase in this MEKC separation.     

Thermodynamic studies of inclusion complex formation between alkylpyridinium chlorides and β-cyclodextrin using conductometric method

Thermodynamics on inclusion complexation of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) with n-alkylpyridinium chlorides (C _n PC, n = 12, 14, 16) were measured by conductivity technique to evaluate the effects of chain length of C _n PC and temperature. The data obtained indicate that inclusion complexes S(CD) and S(CD)₂ had formed between surfactant and β-CD in aqueous solution. Investigation showed that the K ₁ (first equilibrium constant) for S(CD) formation is greater than K ₂ (second equilibrium constant) for S(CD)₂ formation. It has been found that C₁₂PC forms only the 1:1 complex, while C₁₄PC and C₁₆PC form 1:1 and 1:2 complexes. Thermodynamic parameters of the complexation, i.e. ΔG°, ΔH° and ΔS° have been also calculated. The large values of ΔG° indicate that complexation between surfactant and β-CD is very favorable.     

Aggregate morphology and flow behaviour of micellar alkylglycoside solutions

Solutions of n-nonyl-β-D-glucoside (C₉G₁), n-decyl-β-D-glucoside (C₁₀G₁), n-dodecyl-β-D-maltoside (C₁₂G₂), n-tetradecyl-β-D-maltoside (C₁₄G₂) and C₉G₁/C₁₀G₁ mixtures have been characterised by capillary viscometry and rheology in H₂O and D₂O, in order to map the influence of surfactant characteristics on micellisation over a wide concentration range. For the maltosides, the micellar solutions are shear thinning with a zero-shear viscosity that scales with concentration according to a power law with an exponent of about 5.8. In contrast, solutions of the glucosides C₉G₁, C₁₀G₁ and their mixtures show Newtonian flow behaviour and a much lower scaling exponent (<2.4). In C₉G₁/C₁₀G₁ mixtures, the scaling exponent decreases monotonously with increasing C₁₀G₁ content. The flow behaviour correlates with the packing requirements of the various surfactants, and are compatible with the idea that the maltosides form worm-like micelles, whereas the glucosides form branched, interconnected micelles (C₉G₁) and space-filling micellar networks (C₁₀G₁).     

NMR study on solubility of benzyl alcohol and its transfer free energy from D_2O to cationic micelle

A new kind of surfactant, [CnH_(2n+1)OCH2CH(OH)CH2N(CH3)3]Cl (n=12, 14, 16) was synthesized. The solubility of benzyl alcohol in micellar solutions was determined by 1H NMR method. The results indicate that the length of alkyl chains of surfactant affects the solubility of ben-zyl alcohol in 2.5 × l0~(-2) mol/L micellar solutions. The solubility of benzyl alcohol per liter of micellar solution is 0.095 mole for n=12, 0.115 mole for n=14, 0.165 mole for n=16. The transfer free energy of benzyl alcohol from aqueous phase to micellar phase is -24.29 kJ/mol for n=12, -24.37 kJ/mol for n=14, -24.49 kJ/mol for n=16.     

Self-Assembled Structures of Diglycerol Monolaurate- and Monomyristate in Olive Oil

We have investigated the phase behavior and self-assembled structures of diglycerol monolaurate-and monomyristate (abbreviated as C₁₂G₂ and C₁₄G₂, respectivley) in olive oil over a wide range of temperatures and compositions. At lower temperatures, both the surfactants appear in solid state (α-solid), which does not swell with olive oil. The α-solid transforms into lamellar liquid crystal (L_α) phase upon heating and the solid melting temperature is practically constant at all surfactant/oil compositions, but the C₁₂G₂ melts earlier than the C₁₄G₂. There appear the dispersions of L_α phase and α-solid in the dilute regions of the C₁₂G₂/olive oil and the C₁₄G₂/olive oil systems, respectively, at 25°C. The L_α phase can solubilize some amount of olive oil, but as the oil concentration increases the excess oil separates out from the L_α phase, and there appears L_α dispersion in the dilute surfactant concentration region. The L_α phase eventually transforms into isotropic solutions (reverse micelles) with further heating. The structures (shape and size) of the reverse micelles have been characterized by small-angle x-ray scattering technique. It has found that the C₁₂G₂ and C₁₄G₂ surfactants form reverse rod-like micelles in olive oil above the L_α melting temperature and the micellar size increases with surfactant concentration, but decreases with temperatures.     

The Effect of Anomeric Head Groups, Surfactant Hydrophilicity, and Electrolytes onn-Alkyl Monoglucoside Microemulsions

The effects of the variables of head group structure and salt concentration on microemulsions formed in mixtures of water, alkyl ethylene glycol ethers (C_kOC₂OC_k), andn-alkyl β- -glucopyranosides (C_mβG₁) are explored. Phase behavior of mixtures containing an anomer of the surfactant (n-alkyl α- -glucopyranoside, C_mαG₁), or surfactants with long head groups (n-alkyl maltopyranosides, C_mG₂), or NaCl or NaClO₄as electrolyte are systematically reported as a function of temperature and composition. The substitution ofn-alkyl α- -glucopyranosides forn-alkyl β- -glucopyranosides causes precipitation under some conditions in all mixtures studied. These solubility boundaries begin in the water–surfactant binary mixture at the Krafft boundary, then extend to high concentrations of both surfactant and oil. Increasing the effective length of the surfactant head group by adding C_mG₂to water–C_kOC₂OC_k–C_mβG₁mixtures moves the phase behavior dramatically up in temperature when even small amounts of C_mG₂are used. Adding a lyotropic electrolyte, NaCl, to water–C_kOC₂OC_k–C_mβG₁mixtures moves the phase behavior down in temperature, while the hydrotropic electrolyte NaClO₄moves the phase behavior up in temperature.     

Effective solubilization of chalcones in micellar phase: Conductivity and voltammetric study

The solubilization of four chalcones, between aqueous and micellar phases of ionic surfactants (SDS and CTAB), was investigated by conductivity and cyclic voltammetry (CV) techniques. From conductivity data, a decrease in the critical micellar concentration (CMC) of the surfactants, in presence of the chalcones was ascribed to the decreased charge density over the surfactants. The results were seconded by thermodynamic parameters including degree of ionization (α), counter ion binding (β), and standard Gibbs free energy of micellization (ΔG _m ^○ ). The added surfactant decreased the peak current of the oxidized chalcone and shifted the peak potential either positively (in presence of SDS) or negatively (in presence of CTAB). The effect is rationalized as chalcone-surfactant interaction and quantitated as binding constant (K _b) assorting values from 8.78 to 552.97 M^?1. The preferred solubilization of the chalcones in the micellar phase has been inferred.     

Anionic–Nonionic Mixed Surfactant Systems: Micellar Interaction and Thermodynamic Behavior

The interactions between an anionic surfactant, viz., sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate and nonionic surfactants with different secondary ethoxylated chain length, viz., Tergitol 15-S-12, Tergitol 15-S-9, and Tergitol 15-S-7 have been studied in the present article. An attempt has also been made to investigate the effect of ethoxylated chain length on the micellar and the thermodynamic properties of the mixed surfactant systems. The micellar properties like critical micelle concentration (CMC), micellar composition (X_A), interaction parameter (β), and the activity coefficients (f_A and f_NI) have been evaluated using Rubingh's regular solution theory. In addition to micellar studies, thermodynamic parameters like the surface pressure (Π_CMC), surface excess values (Γ_CMC), average area of the monomers at the air–water interface (A_avg), free energy of micellization (ΔG_m), minimum energy at the air–water interface (G_min), etc., have also been calculated. It has been found that in mixtures of anionic and nonionic secondary ethoxylated surfactants, a surfactant containing a smaller ethoxylated chain is favored thermodynamically. Additionally, the adsorption of nonionic species on air/water interface and micelle increases with decreasing secondary ethoxylated chain length. Dynamic light scattering and viscometric studies have also been performed to study the interactions between anionic and nonionic surfactants used.     

Using the cationic surfactants N-cetyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium bromide and 1-cetyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide for sweeping–micellar electrokinetic chromatography

This paper describes a sweeping–micellar electrokinetic chromatography (sweeping–MEKC) technique for the determination of seven benzodiazepines, using, as sweeping carriers, the ionic liquid-type cationic surfactants 1-cetyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide (C₁₆MIMBr) and N-cetyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium bromide (C₁₆MPYB). These surfactants resemble the commonly employed cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), but they provide different separation efficiencies. We optimized the separation and sweeping conditions, including the pH, the concentrations of organic modifier and surfactant, and the sample injection volume. Adding C₁₆MIMBr or C₁₆MPYB to the background electrolyte enhanced the separation efficiency and detection sensitivity during the sweeping–MEKC analyses of the benzodiazepines. C₁₆MIMBr enhanced the sensitivity for each benzodiazepine 31–59-fold; C₁₆MPYB, 86–165-fold. In the presence of C₁₆MPYB, the limits of detection for the seven analytes ranged from 4.68 to 9.75 ng/mL. We adopted the sweeping–MEKC conditions optimized for C₁₆MPYB to satisfactorily analyze a human urine sample spiked with the seven benzodiazepines. To minimize the matrix effects, we subjected this urine sample to off-line solid phase extraction (SPE) prior to analysis. The recoveries of the analytes after SPE were satisfactory (ca. 77.0–88.3%). Our experimental results reveal that the cationic surfactant C₁₆MPYB exhibits superior sweeping power relative to those of C₁₆MIMBr and CTAB and that it can be applied in sweeping–MEKC analyses for the on-line concentrating and analyzing of benzodiazepines present in real samples at nanogram-per-milliliter concentrations.     

Interactions of two homologues of cationic surface active ionic liquids with sodium carboxymethylcellulose in aqueous solution

In the preceding paper of this series, we studied the interactions of copolymers with the ionic liquids, 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide (C _n mimBr, n?=?8, 10, 12, 14, 16) and N-alkyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium bromide (C _n MPB, n?=?12, 14, 16). An obvious difference was detected between the interaction mechanism and the alkyl chain length of the surfactant. In the present study, we performed a systematic study on the interaction of sodium carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC) with ionic liquids in aqueous solution by isothermal titration microcalorimetry (ITC), conductivity, turbidity, and dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements. The existence of electrostatic attraction between NaCMC and ILs could increase the complexity of these systems. The results show that the monomers of C₈mimBr can bind to the NaCMC chains and form free surfactant micelles in the solution, while no micelle-like C₈mimBr/NaCMC cluster is detected. For other surfactants, the formation of surfactant/NaCMC clusters in the solution is driven by electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions, which could be divided into two types. One type is the polymer-induced surfactant/NaCMC complexes that form in the solution for the surfactant of C _n mimBr (n?=?10, 12, 14) or C _n MPB (n?=?12, 14). The other type is that the surfactant-induced surfactant/NaCMC complexes come into being for the surfactant of C₁₆mimBr or C₁₆MPB. Finally, the different modes of complex formation proposed have a good interpretation of the experiment results, unraveling the details of the effect of surfactant alkyl chain length and headgroup on the surfactant–NaCMC interactions.     

Interplay of Polarity and Confinement in Asymmetric Catalysis with Chiral Rh Diene Complexes in Microemulsions

Microemulsions provide a unique opportunity to tailor the polarity and liquid confinement in asymmetric catalysis via nanoscale polar and nonpolar domains separated by a surfactant film. For chiral diene Rh complexes, the influence of counterion and surfactant film on the catalytic activity and enantioselectivity remained elusive. To explore this issue chiral norbornadiene Rh(X) complexes (X=OTf, OTs, OAc, PO₂F₂) were synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography and theoretical calculations. These complexes were used in Rh-catalyzed 1,2-additions of phenylboroxine to N-tosylimine in microemulsions stabilized either exclusively by n-octyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (C₈G₁) or a C₈G₁-film doped with anionic or cationic surfactants (AOT, SDS and DTAB). The Rh(OAc) complex showed the largest dependence on the composition of the microemulsion, yielding up to 59 % (90 %ee) for the surfactant film doped with 5 wt% of AOT as compared to 52 % (58 %ee) for neat C₈G₁ at constant surfactant concentration. Larger domains, determined by SAXS analysis, enabled further increase in yield and selectivity while the reaction rate almost remained constant according to kinetic studies.     

Aggregation behavior of naphthalimide fluorescent surfactants in aqueous solution

A group of novel fluorescent surfactants, N-n-alkyl-4-(1-methylpiperazine)-1,8-naphthalimide iodine [C_nndi]I (n?=?8, 10, and 12), have been synthesized and their aggregation behavior in aqueous solution have been explored by surface tension, electric conductivity, hydrogen-1 NMR spectra, absorption, and fluorescence spectra. Compared with traditional cationic surfactants, the [C_nndi]I have a rather lower critical micelle concentration and higher surface activity. Absorption and fluorescence spectra were proved to be facile method to monitor directly the aggregation states of fluorescent surfactant molecules in solution and revealed clearly the formation of face-to-face stacked structure of the [C_nndi]I molecules driven by the π–π interactions. The micelle formation process for [C_nndi]I was demonstrated to be enthalpy-driven in the temperature range investigated. Possible aggregation process was given based on the experimental results. The combination of dye and surfactant provides a way for monitoring the formation process of micelle directly by fluorescence spectra.     

Complexes of 1-alkyl-4-aza-1-azoniabicyclo[2.2.2]octane bromides with lanthanum nitrate. Micelle-forming and adsorption properties

Novel organometallic surfactants were synthesized from monoquaternized 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]-octanes of varied hydrophobicity [Alk = C _n H_2n+1, n = 14, 18] and lanthanum nitrates. The spectral, micelleforming, and adsorption properties of the synthesized compounds were studied by IR, ¹Н NMR and electronic spectroscopy, tensiometry, conductometry, and potentiometry. The critical micelle concentrations, counterionic micellar binding constants, and adsorption parameters at the water–air interface were determined and compared with the respective characteristics of the ligands and conventional amphiphiles.     

Lyotropic liquid crystalline phases formed by phyosterol ethoxylates in room-temperature ionic liquids

The phase behaviors of four phytosterol ethoxylates surfactants (BPS-n, n = 5, 10, 20, and 30) with different oxyethylene units in room temperature ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([Bmim]BF₄), have been studied. The polarized optical microscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering techniques are used to characterize the phase structures of these binary systems at 25 °C. The structure and ordering of the liquid crystalline (LC) phases in such BPS-n/[Bmim]BF₄ systems are found to be influenced by BPS-n concentration and the temperature. Due to the bulky and rigid cholesterol group, the phytosterol ethoxylates surfactants exhibit different properties and interaction mechanism from the conventional C_nEO_m type nonionic surfactant systems. The rheological measurements indicate a highly viscoelastic nature of these lyotropic LC phases and disclose a lamellar phase characteristic with a rather strong rigidity at high surfactant concentrations. The control experiment with Brij 97(polyoxyethylene (10) oleyl ether)/[Bmim]BF₄ system and the FTIR measurements help to recognize that the solvophobic interaction combining with the hydrogen bonding are the main driving forces for the LC phases formation.     

Diffusion-controlled adsorption kinetics at the interface between air and aqueous micellar solution of heptaethylene glycol monododecyl ether

The diffusion-controlled adsorption kinetics of micellar surfactant C₁₂E₇ (heptaethylene glycol monododecyl ether) solutions was studied theoretically and experimentally. The corrected diffusion equation, which was used to describe the diffusion of the monomers in the micellar solutions, was solved under the initial and boundary conditions by means of Laplace transformation. The dynamic surface adsorption γ(t) as a function of surface lifetime t, monomer diffusion coefficient D and the demicellization constant was derived. The dynamic surface tensions γ(t) of aqueous submicellar and micellar solutions were measured via maximal bubble pressure method. By analyzing the experimental data, the determined demicellization constant of C₁₂E₇ at 25°C was between 100–116 s^?1.     

Interactions between β-cyclodextrin and an amino acid-based anionic gemini surfactant derived from cysteine

The interaction between β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and an amino acid-based anionic gemini surfactant derived from cysteine (C₈Cys)₂ was studied by three independent techniques: electrical conductivity, UV–Vis spectral displacement technique using phenolphthalein as probe, and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The data obtained indicated the formation of a 1:1 inclusion complex between β-CD and the gemini surfactant studied and allowed for the determination of the binding constant, K₁, by considering this stoichiometry. Electrical conductivity, spectral displacement technique, and NMR chemical shift measurements, obtained for aqueous β-CD–surfactant systems, yielded consistent K₁ values in the order of 10² dm³ mol^?1, typical of a weakly bound β-CD–surfactant complex. The influence of the presence of the inclusion complex on the micellization process of the gemini surfactant has also been studied and the apparent critical micelle concentration (cmc¹) has been obtained. Increasing β-CD concentration was found to shift the cmc¹ to higher values, as complexed surfactant monomers are not available to form micelles and aggregation takes place only when all β-CD cavities are occupied.     

Influencing the regioselectivity of lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis with [bmim]PF6

An easy preparation of mono-deprotected thioglucopyranosides via a selective Candica cylindracea lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis of a commercially available peracetylated precursor is described. Especially, ethyl 2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-1-thio-β-d-glucopyranoside and ethyl 2,3,6-tri-O-acetyl-1-thio-β-d-glucopyranoside were obtained in 100% and 54% isolated yields, respectively. The influence of the ratio of [bmim]PF₆/buffer toward the regioselectivity of the deacetylation step and the acyl migration is discussed.     

Review of: “Physico-Chemical Properties of Selected Anionic Cationic and Nonionic Surfactants”. N.M van Os,J.R. Haak and L.M. Rupert (Eds.). Elsevier,Amsterdam, 1993, pp. viii + 608 pages. $245.75.(ISBN 0-444-89691-0)

The phase behavior in water of pentaglycerol monostearate (C₁₈G₅) and pentaglycerol monooleate (C_18:1G₅) surfactants has been studied as a function of temperature and surfactant weight fraction, W _s . The equilibrium phases present at each composition and temperature studied were characterized by means of visual observation under normal and polarized light, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and X‐ray scattering, both at small (SAXS) and at wide angle (WAXS). In the temperature range 0–46°C, C₁₈G₅ presents a thermotropic α‐gel structure. However, at higher temperatures, the α‐gel phase melts and a lamellar liquid crystalline (L_α) phase is formed. The amount of water that can be solubilized by α‐gel and L_α was determined by plotting the interlayer distance, d, as a function of the reciprocal of W _s . Water is soluble in the α‐gel phase up to 21 w/w% water concentration and in the L_α phase up to 30 w/w% water concentration. At higher water concentrations, excess water appears and a dispersion of α‐gel (α‐gel+W) and lamellar liquid crystal (L_α+W) in water is formed, respectively. In contrast, C_18:1G₅ is liquid in the whole range of temperatures studied (0–100°C). While at low temperatures, C_18:1G₅ presents a L_α structure, at about 63°C L_α melts and an isotropic liquid reverse micellar solution (O_m) phase is formed. The amount of water that can be solubilized by both O_m and L_α increases with temperature.