A novel reverse worm-like micelle from a lecithin/sucrose fatty acid ester/oil system

We report a novel method for forming reverse worm-like micelles in nonpolar organic solvents. This method requires the addition of trace amounts of a sucrose fatty acid ester (SFE), in addition to lecithin and a nonpolar organic solvent. The region in which these micelles formed increased with lecithin concentration and hydrophobicity of SFE. In addition, zero-shear viscosity (η ₀) of the reverse worm-like micelles increased rapidly upon addition of SFE, reaching 1–3 million times the viscosity of n-decane. Furthermore, the change in η ₀ was examined in detail by performing dynamic viscoelasticity measurements. Results showed that the η ₀ of solution increased upon addition of SFE because both the length and number of reverse worm-like micelles increased along with SFE concentration.     

Rheological behavior of an elongated micellar solution at low and high salt concentrations

 The aim of this experimen-tal work is to investigate the mechanism responsible of the decrease of the zero shear viscosity at high inorganic salt content. We report the linear and some nonlinear rheological properties of aqueous worm-like micellar solutions of CTAB containing NaNO₃ salt. The zero-shear viscosity η₀ curve versus salt concentration exhibits a well-defined maximum. We choose two salt concentrations (low and high) having the same zero-shear viscosity, and carefully explore the rheological characteristics and their evolutions in (and around) these two situations. The experimental results presented here, without excluding the possibility of the connections, suggest the possibility that the decreasing of η₀ is a result of the reduction in size of the worm-like micelles. Received: 16 February Accepted: 8 June 1998     

Effects of temperature and molecular weight on dissolution of cellulose in NaOH/urea aqueous solution

Dissolution of cellulose having different viscosity-average molecular weight (M _η ) in 7 wt%NaOH/12 wt%urea aqueous solution at temperature from 60 to −12.6°C was investigated with optical microscope, viscosity measurements and wide X-ray diffraction (WXRD). The solubility (S_a) of cellulose in NaOH/urea aqueous solution strongly depended on the temperature, and molecular weight. Their S_a values increased with a decrease in temperature, and cellulose having M _η below 10.0 × 10⁴ could be dissolved completely in NaOH/urea aqueous solution pre-cooled to −12.6°C. The activation energy of dissolution (E_a,s) of the cellulose dissolution was a negative value, suggesting that the cellulose solution state had lower enthalpy than the solid cellulose. The cellulose concentration in this system increased with a decrease of M _η to achieve about 8 wt% for M _η of 3.1 × 10⁴. Moreover, cellulose having 12.7 × 10⁴ could be dissolved completely in the solvent pre-cooled to −12.6°C as its crystallinity (χ _c) decreased from 0.62 to 0.53. We could improve the solubility of cellulose in NaOH/urea aqueous system by changing M _η , χ _c and temperature. In addition, the zero-shear viscosity (η ₀ ) at 0°C for the 4 wt% cellulose solution increased rapidly with an increase of M _η , as a result of the enhancement of the aggregation and entanglement for the relatively long chains.     

Temperature dependence of viscosity for sucrose laurate/water micellar systems

The viscous behavior of sucrose laurate aqueous systems of high hydrophilic-lipophilic balance up to a 50% (wt) surfactant concentration at temperatures between 5°C and 60°C has been studied. Systems up to a 45% (wt) surfactant concentration show Newtonian behavior. The influence of temperature was studied using the activated diffusive relaxation model described by Goodwin. A maximum specific viscosity that appears at lower temperature as sucrose laurate concentration increases can be observed. These results are related to the micellar growth of the sucrose laurate aggregates as temperature rises. More concentrated systems show complex viscous response. Thus, a limit viscosity at low shear rates and a shear-thinning behavior after a critical shear rate are observed. Limit viscosity decreases and critical shear rate increases as temperature rises. This behavior is related to the threshold micelle concentration for entanglement of rod-like micelles.Nomenclature A Parameter of the equation that relatesE and temperature - B Pre-exponential factor of the Arrhenius equation - C Sucrose ester concentration (kg · m^–3) - CMC Critical micelle concentration - E Activation energy for long-range diffusive motion (Goodwin model) - E _a Activation energy of the viscous flow (Arrhenius equation) - E ₀ Parameter of the equation that relatesE and temperature - HLB Hydrophilic/lipophilic balance of the sucrose ester - J Constant that depends on the aqueous phase viscosity and mean micellar radius - k Boltzmann's constant - k ₁ Parameter of the Goodwin equation - k ₂ Parameter of the Goodwin equation - q _rel Contribution of the hydrodynamic interactions - R _e External radius of the sensor system - R _i Inner radius of the sensor system - T Temperature - T _max Temperature at the maximum viscosity - Newtonian viscosity - _i Intrinsic viscosity - _rel Relative viscosity = _solution/_water - _red Reduced viscosity = _sp/C - _sp Specific viscosity = _rel – 1 - ₀ Zero-shear-rate viscosity     

Study of apparent molal volume and viscosity of mutual citric acid and disodium hydrogen orthophosphate aqueous systems

Fundamental properties, density (ρ) and viscosity (η), of citric acid (CA) and disodium hydrogen orthophosphate (DSP) at various strengths were obtained at different temperatures. The ρ and η values were used to determine apparent molal volumes and viscosity of systems. The ρ, V_Φ and η values were regressed against molalitym for ρ⁰, η⁰ and V _Φ ⁰ , the limiting constants at infinite dilution (m → 0) for ionic and molecular interactions. The ρ⁰ and V _Φ ⁰ of aq. acids are higher than those of aq. DSP and the viscosity of DSP is higher than that of aq. CA. Examination of ρ⁰ and V _Φ ⁰ functions indicates that mutual compositions of CA and DSP counterbalance concentration and temperature effects on pH in bioprocesses.     

Hydrophobic Interactions of Methylureas in Aqueous Solutions Estimated with Density, Molal Volume, Viscosity and Surface Tension from 293.15 to 303.15 K

Density (ρ), viscosity (η), and surface tension (γ) for 0.005–0.25 mol ⋅ kg⁻¹ solutions of urea, 1-methylurea, and 1,3-dimethylurea solutions have been measured at intervals of 0.005 mol ⋅ kg⁻¹. Apparent molal volume (V _o, cm³ ⋅ mol⁻¹) and intrinsic viscosity coefficients (B and D) are calculated from the ρ and η values, respectively. Primary data were regressed and extrapolated to zero concentration for the limiting density (ρ ⁰), apparent molal volume (V _φ ⁰), viscosity (η ⁰), and surface tension (γ ⁰) values for solute–solvent interactions. The –CH₃ (methyl) groups of N-methylureas weaken hydrophilic interactions and enhance hydrophobic interactions, and the values of the ρ ⁰ and V _φ ^o reflect the intermolecular forces due to electrostatic charge, whereas the η ⁰ and γ ⁰ values reflect the frictional and surface forces. The B values depict the size of hydrodynamic sphere due to heteromolecular forces whereas D shows the effect of concentration. The molar surface energy (ΔE _m/sur) for dropwise flow was calculated from the γ values and decreases with concentration and temperature, but increases with –CH₃ weakening of the hydrophilic interactions and strengthening the hydrophobic interactions.     

Micropolarity of sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate reverse micelles prepared in supercritical ethane and near-critical propane

The micropolarity of sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT) reverse micelles prepared in supercritical ethane and near-critical propane has been determined in terms of a solvent polarity parameter, E _T(30) values, by using absorption probes, 1-ethyl-4-methoxycarbonyl pyridinium iodide and 2,6-diphenyl-4-(2,4,6-triphenylpyridinio)-phenolate as a functions of pressure and the molar ratio of water to AOT, W ₀, at a constant temperature of 310 K. The micropolarity comparable to that of ethanol was observed for reverse micelles containing water of W ₀ = 2. The micropolarity increased with the water content and became independent of pressure after the system changed to a one-phase reverse micelle solution. For a given W ₀ value, no difference in the micropolarity was noticed in the micelles prepared in ethane and propane. Phase behaviour investigations have revealed that complete dissolution of 50 mM AOT occurred at 20 MPa in supercritical ethane, while a much lower pressure of 1 MPa was required in near-critical propane. The amount of water solubilized in reverse micelles formed in supercritical ethane was relatively low, reaching a W ₀ value of 7 at 36 MPa. In contrast, the amount of water solubilized in near-critical propane reverse micelles was W ₀ = 11 at a much lower pressure of 6 MPa. A higher pressure was required to solubilize larger amount of water in reverse micelles prepared in both ethane and propane. Received: 9 October 1998 Accepted in revised form: 12 February 1999     

About entangled networks of worm-like micelles: a rejected hypothesis

We report new results from small-angle neutron scattering ond ₁₂-cyclohexane/lecithin/water micellar solutions performed as a function of the water content (w ₀), temperature (T) and dispersed phase volume fraction (). The data from dilute samples are interpretable in terms of the existence of giant cylindrical reverse micelles and are well fit with a core-shell model (that provides the micelle structure and dimensions) with values of 28 and 45 Å for the inner core and the outer shell radii, almost independent on temperature and concentration. Such a result could appear consistent with the current idea that worm-like micelles are living polymers. On the contrary, the appearance of a sharp interference maximum at high concentrations (>0.15) suggests arguments against the current hypothesis of an entangled network of giant flexible cylinders. Further arguments against the current hypothesis are given by the close similarity between the above described results and those from free of water micelles (for sure not cylinders). All the data are well fitted in terms of a unique model taking into account the micellar form factor plus a hard sphere structure factor. The data analysis suggests a micellar size distribution determined by the competition between concentration and interaction effects on which temperature plays not a minor role. Following our results, the current hypothesis of a gel structure in terms of an entangled network can be assumed as wrong and some caution has to be taken in assuming wormlike micelles as living polymers.     

Phase behavior and rheological properties of lecithin/TTAOH/H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O mixtures

The phase behavior, structures, and rheological properties of lecithin/tetradecyltrimethylammonium hydroxide (TTAOH)/water system were investigated by cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM), polarization optical microscope, ¹H and ³¹P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra, surface tension, and rheological measurements. With the variation of mixing molar ratios and concentrations of lecithin and TTAOH, the system exhibits the phase transition from micelles (L₁ phase) to vesicles (L_α phase) through a phase separation region. The rod-like micelles, uni- and multilamellar vesicles were determined by means of cryo-TEM observations. The surface tension and rheological measurements were performed to follow the phase transition. The samples of L₁ phase region behave as Newton fluids at low concentration of lecithin. With the increase of the lecithin concentration, a shear-thinning L₁ phase at the shearing rate 100 s⁻¹ was found. The samples of \textL_a {{\text{L}}_{\alpha }} phase region show viscoelastic properties of the typical vesicles. The interactions between lecithin and TTAOH were monitored by ¹H and ³¹P NMR spectra. These results could contribute towards the understanding of the basic function of lecithin in biological membranes and membranous organelles.     

Phase behavior of the lecithin/water/isooctane and lecithin/water/decane systems

The isothermal pseudo-ternary-phase diagram was determined at 25 degrees C for systems composed oflecithin, water, and, as oil, either isooctane or decane. This was accomplished by a combination of polarizing microscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering, and NMR techniques. The lecithin-rich region of the phase diagram is dominated by a lamellar liquid-crystalline phase (Lalpha). For lecithin contents less than 60% and low hydration (mole ratio water/lecithin = W0 < 5.5), the system forms a viscous gel of branched cylindrical reverse micelles. With increase in the water content, the system phase separates into two phases, which is either gel in equilibrium with essentially pure isooctane (for lecithin < 25%) or a gel in equilibrium with Lalpha (for lecithin > 25%). These two-phase regions are very thin with respect to water dilution. For 8 < W0 < 54 very stable water-in-oil emulsions form. It is only after ripening for more than 1 year that the large region occupied by the emulsion reveals a complex pattern of stable phases. Moving along water dilution lines, one finds (i) the coexistence of gel, isooctane and Lalpha, (ii) equilibrium between reverse micelles and spherulites, and, finally, (iii) disconnected reverse micelles that fail to solubilize water for W0 > 54. This results in a Winsor II phase equilibrium at low lecithin content, while for lecithin > 20% the neat water is in equilibrium with a reverse hexagonal phase and an isotropic liquid-crystalline phase. The use of the decane as oil does not change the main features of the phase behavior.     

Effect of organic salts on micellar growth and structure studied by rheology

We report a rheological study on the effect of adding organic salts [sodium tosylate (NaTos) and benzoic acid potassium salt (BaPs)] on the micellar growth and structure of aqueous solutions of cethyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) at a constant molar concentration ratio [salt]/[CTAC]. The rheological data show two well-defined domains of growth characterized by scaling laws for the surfactant concentration. The addition of NaTos leads to an unusual maximum in the viscosity-surfactant concentration curve. Before the maximum (domain 1), the analysis of the data (η₀, τ_R and G ₀) suggests the presence of branched micelles (connections). After the maximum (domain 2), however, the exponents of the scaling laws do not reflect either the relaxation of this branched structure or that of an entangled transient network structure. A faster mechanism of relaxation, not yet elucidated governs their dynamics. The exponents of the power laws in the presence of the BaPs are found, however, to be in accordance with the theory of equilibrium polymers. Received: 15 April 1998 Accepted in revised form: 20 October 1998     

Experimental Study of the Effect of Temperature,Pressure and Concentration on the Viscosity of Aqueous NaBr Solutions

The viscosity of 10 (0.049, 0.205, 0.464, 0.564, 0.820, 1.105, 1.496, 2.007, 2.382, and 2.961 mol ċ kg⁻¹) binary aqueous NaBr solutions has been measured with a capillary-flow technique. Measurements were made at pressures up to 40 MPa. The range of temperature was 288–595 K. The total uncertainty of viscosity, pressure, temperature and composition measurements were estimated to be less than 1.6%, 0.05%, 15 mK, and 0.02%, respectively. The effect of temperature, pressure, and concentration on viscosity of binary aqueous NaBr solutions were studied. The measured values of the viscosity of NaBr(aq) were compared with data, predictions and correlations reported in the literature. The temperature and pressure coefficients of viscosity of NaBr(aq) were studied as a function of concentration and temperature. The viscosity data have been interpreted in terms of the extended Jones–Dole equation for the relative viscosity (η/η₀) to calculate accurately the values of viscosity A- and B-coefficients as a function of temperature. The derived values of the viscosity A- and B-coefficients were compared with the results predicted by the Falkenhagen–Dole theory of electrolyte solutions and calculated with the ionic B-coefficient data. The physical meaning parameters V and E in the absolute rate theory of the viscosity and hydrodynamic molar volume V k were calculated using the present experimental viscosity data. The TTG model has been used to compare predicted values of the viscosity of NaBr(aq) solutions with experimental values at high pressures.     

Ion-Ion and Ion-Solvent Interactions of Tetraalkyl Ammonium Bromide in Mixed DMF-Water Systems at Different Temperatures

Density (ρ), viscosity (η) and ultrasonic velocity (U) of tetraethylammonium bromide (TEAB) and tetrapropylammonium bromide (TPAB) in 10, 20 and 30% of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and water mixtures have been measured as a function of electrolyte concentration at 303, 308 and 313 K. The experimental values of ρ,η and U are used to calculate free volume (V _f), internal pressure (π _i), solvation number (S _n) and viscosity B-coefficient. These parameters are used to discuss the ion-solvent and ion-ion interactions and structure making tendency of the electrolyte.     

Micellization of triblock copoly(ethyleneoxide/tetrahydrofuran/ ethylene oxide)

 The association behaviour of triblock copoly(ethylene oxide/tetrahydrofuran/ethylene oxide), in particular E₁₀₀T₂₇E₁₀₀, in aqueous solutions has been investigated by means of static and dynamic light scattering, nuclear magnetic reso-nance (NMR) and surface tension techniques. On raising the polymer concentration at room temperature, the copolymer aggregates to form micelles with an aggregation number of about 105 (R _G, mic≈15 nm and R _H, mic≈13 nm, as revealed by light scattering and FT-PGSE NMR measurements, respectively). The micelles are kinetically quite stable, the micellar lifetime is shown to be more than 1 h. The residence time of a single unimer in a micelle is more than 140 ms. The apparent radius of gyration R _G, mic is fairly independent of concentration, but large effects are observed on varying the temperature. Raising the temperature initially results in an increase of the apparent micellar size, followed by a maximum at an intermediate temperature (≈45 °C). At higher temperatures a contraction of the micelles is observed. The shape of the micelles also appear to vary in this temperature interval. The interactions responsible for these phenomena are discussed in terms of, e.g., the temperature-dependent solubility of the alkylene oxide segments in water and polydispersity effects. Received: 29 January 1996 acccepted : 4 November 1996     

Specific low-shear viscosity of a liquid dispersion of solid particles from variational theory for the Fuchs stability ratio

The contribution of a solid phase to the low-shear viscosity of a solid–liquid dispersion, i.e., the specific viscosity, η_SP, is investigated theoretically by applying a variational procedure. The Fuchs stability ratio has been interpreted as a general steady-state equilibrium constant for aggregation and has been extended to a functional form which describes the motion of two Brownian units in a dispersion. Application of the Euler–Lagrange equation under the validity of an adiabatic-like approximation for the Hamiltonian (approximately Brownian kinetic energy and inertial potential field) yields a constraint that involves specific viscosity, solid volume fraction, φ, interparticle energy and correlation functions of the dispersed phase. The Einstein formula is found as the limit of the Saito equation when an infinitely dilute hard-sphere suspension is considered, while a general closed form expression, η_SP=η_SP(φ), is proposed for a concentrated suspension. It depends on the particle coordination number and affinity, returns the low density expansion predicted by effective-medium-type theories for the viscosity, and can be represented as the sum of two dominant contributions, associated respectively with the first peak of the radial distribution function and the second peak of the total correlation function. Application to experimental data, concerning latex particles in cis-decalin and interacting silica–water systems, is presented and discussed. Received: 31 March 2000/Accepted: 13 July 2000     

Aqueous polysaccharide blends based on hydroxypropyl guar gum and carboxymethyl cellulose: synergistic viscosity and thixotropic properties

Aqueous polysaccharide blends, formed from 2.5% (w/v) solution of hydroxypropyl guar gum (HPG) and 2.5% (w/v) solution of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) according to different blending ratios, were investigated at 20 °C in terms of their shear-dependent viscosity and thixotropic properties. The Cross viscosity equation was found to fit the shear-dependent viscosity data with reasonable accuracy. When the HPG solution with the mass fraction (f _HPG) of 0.87 was mixed, the zero shear viscosity (η _o) of the corresponding blend was found to be 168.5753 Pa s, while the η _o values of component HPG and CMC solutions were found to be 3.3859 and 98.6525 Pa s, respectively. For the aqueous HPG/CMC blends investigated, the resulting zero shear viscosity was observed to be much greater than the combined zero shear viscosity of the component polysaccharide solutions, showing a synergistic viscosity property. The quantitative determination of the hysteresis loop area, developed during viscometer tests on shear rate–shear stress reverse paths, was used to describe the thixotropic behavior. When compared with aqueous solutions of the component polysaccharides, these polysaccharide blends could afford enhanced thixotropic property. Maximum thixotropy synergism was observed for the HPG/CMC blend with the f _HPG of 0.67.     

Competition of Viscosity Correlation Equations in Isobutyric Acid + Water Binary Mixtures Near and Far Away from the Critical Temperature

Shear viscosity deviations Δη have been investigated by using density (ρ) and kinematic viscosity (ν) measurements for isobutyric acid + water (IBA + W) mixtures over the entire range of mole fractions at atmospheric pressure and at two temperatures (301.15 and 315.15 K). This study extends the temperature range from the five other temperatures investigated in a previous work, 1.055 K≤(T−T _c )≤14.055 K, both far from and close to the critical temperature. This system exhibits very large positive values of Δη due to increased hydrogen bonding interactions and the correlation length between unlike molecules in the critical region, and to very large differences between the molar volumes of the pure components at low temperatures. The results were also fitted with the Redlich–Kister polynomial equations and the recently proposed Herráez correlation equation. Comparisons between the two models at different temperatures and number of parameters are discussed. We note that, in this system where the shear viscosity η as a function of mole fraction (x ₁) of IBA presents a maximum, experimental data are in agreement with the two correlation models when more than three parameters are employed, especially for temperatures far from the critical temperature.     

Improvement in enzyme activity and stability by addition of low molecular weight polyethylene glycol to sodium bis(2-ethyl-L-hexyl)sulfosuccinate/isooctane reverse micellar system

The activity and stability of Chromobacterium viscosum lipase (glycerolester hydrolase, EC 3.1.1.3)-catalyzed olive oil hydrolysis in sodium bis (2-ethyl-1-hexyl)sulfosuccinate (AOT)/isooctane reverse micelles is increased appreciably when low molecular weight polyethylene glycol (PEG 400) is added to the reverse micelles. To understand the effect of PEG 400 on the phase behavior of the reverse micellar system, the phase diagram of AOT/PEG 400/water/isooctane system was studied. The influences of relevant parameters on the catalytic activity in AOT/PEG 400 reverse micelles were investigated and compared with the results in the simple AOT reverse micelles. In the presence of PEG 400, the linear decreasing trend of the lipase activity with AOT concentration, which is observed in the simple AOT reverse micelles, disappeared. Enzyme entrapped in AOT/PEG reverse micelles was very stable, retaining>75% of its initial activity after 60 d, whereas the half-life in simple AOT reverse micelles was 38 d. The kinetics parameter maximum velocity (V _max)exhibiting the temperature dependence and the activation energy obtained by Arrhenius plot was suppressed significantly by the addition of PEG 400.     

Experimental Study of the Effect of Temperature,Pressure, and Concentration on the Viscosity of Aqueous KBr Solutions

The viscosity of five (0.1240, 0.2378, 0.4645, 0.9440, and 2.2310 mol⋅kg⁻¹) binary aqueous KBr solutions have been measured with a capillary flow technique. Measurements were made at pressures up to 30 MPa for the temperature range 298 to 577 K. The total uncertainties of the viscosity, pressure, temperature, and composition measurements were estimated to be less than 1.6%, 0.05%, 15 mK, and 0.02%, respectively. The temperature and pressure coefficients of the viscosity of KBr(aq) were studied as a function of molality and temperature. The measured viscosities were compared with data, predictions and correlations previously reported in the literature. The viscosity data were used to accurately calculate the physical-meaningful parameters (viscosity A- and B-coefficients) of the extended Jones-Dole equation for the relative viscosity (η/η ₀). Various theoretical models {absolute rate theory, Tammann-Tait-Gibson (TTG) model, and extended Einstein model} were used to accurately represent the measured viscosities. Values of hydrodynamic molar volume V _k (effective rigid molar volume of the salt) were calculated using the present experimental data. The high-pressure viscosity measurements were used to test the predictive capability of the TTG model.     

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).