Surface and aggregation behavior of aqueous solutions of Ru(II) metallosurfactants: 4. Effect of chain number and orientation on the aggregation of [Ru(bipy)2(bipy')]Cl2 complexes

The structure of aggregates formed by eight surfactant [Ru(bipy)2(p,p'-dialkyl-2,2'-bipy)]Cl2 complexes-which we express as Ru(p)(q)Cn, where n (=12 or 19) is the alkyl chain length, p (=4 or 5) refers to the substitution position on the bipyridine ligand, and q (=1 or 2) is the number of substituted alkyl chains-in aqueous solutions has been examined using small-angle neutron scattering for a range of concentrations close to the critical micelle concentration and for several combinations of n, p, and q. A number of general results emerge. The double-chain surfactants possess a smaller headgroup charge but a larger aggregate size than their single-chain analogues. Over the concentration range studied, the micelles of the single-chain surfactants grow as the concentration is increased, whereas for the double-chain systems, the aggregate size remains unchanged. For both single- and double-chain surfactants, an increase in alkyl chain length is accompanied by an expected increase in aggregate size and an increase in average headgroup charge. The aggregates formed in solutions of resolved double-chain complexes are larger than those found in solutions of racemic mixtures. The Ru(4)(1)C12 and Ru(5)(1)C12 systems form aggregates with high water content. Variation of the substitution position for the single-chain surfactants produces dramatic changes in the structure of the micelles. The aggregates formed in solutions of Ru(4)(1)C19 and Ru(5)(1)C19 display particularly different structures. The Ru(4)(1)C19 system forms essentially spherical aggregates. In contrast, in the Ru(5)(1)C19 system, wormlike aggregates are formed in which the rigid rodlike sections appear to undergo a transition from a noninterdigitated to an interdigitated structure as the concentration is increased. For double-chain surfactants, the aggregation number for p = 4 surfactants is considerably larger than that for p = 5 surfactants.     

Surface and aggregation behavior of aqueous solutions of Ru(II) metallosurfactants. 3. Effect of chain number and orientation on the structure of adsorbed films of [Ru(bipy)2(bipy')]Cl2 complexes

The surface behavior of a range of surfactant [Ru(bipy)(2)(p,p'-dialkyl-2,2'-bipy)]Cl(2) complexes, which we express as Ru(q)(p)C(n) where n is the alkyl chain length, p refers to the substitution position on the bipyridine ligand (=4 or 5), and q (=1 or 2) is the number of substituted alkyl chains, has been examined using neutron reflectometry. The adsorption of the single-chain Ru(1)(4)C(19) and Ru(1)(5)C(19) surfactants is strongly time-dependent, taking in excess of 10 h to form an equilibrium film. It is suggested that the slow adsorption rate is related to the alkyl chain length rather than the low monomer concentration present in the solutions. At concentrations below the critical micelle concentration (cmc) of Ru(1)(4)C(19), the film of Ru(1)(5)C(19) is denser than that of Ru(1)(4)C(19) at comparable concentration, consistent with the mass densities of the bulk solids, whereas at concentrations close to and greater than this cmc the converse pertains. Close to the cmc, the adsorbed films possess an average area per molecule significantly less than the nominal headgroup area of the surfactants (approximately 30 angstroms(2) compared with approximately 100 angstroms(2)). This fact together with consideration of the thickness and density of the adsorbed films leads to the conjecture that surface aggregates may be the adsorbing units. The adsorption of the double-chain surfactant Ru(1)(p)C(19), in contrast to the behavior of the Ru(1)(p)C(19) surfactants, is weak and independent of time. This behavior is attributed to the alkyl chain orientation. The adsorption behavior of a racemic mixture of the Delta and Lambda isomers of Ru(2)(4)C(19) has been compared with that of the Delta isomer. It is found that the film of racemic material is more closely packed than that of the resolved complex.     

Odd/even effect in the chain length on the enthalpy of micellization of gemini surfactants in aqueous solution

The micellization properties of cationic symmetric gemini surfactants, [CmH(2m+1)(CH3)2N(CH2)6N(CH3)2CmH(2m+1)]Br2 (designated as CmC6CmBr2, with m = 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 16), has been investigated by isothermal titration microcalorimetry. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) and enthalpy of micellization (DeltaHmic) were determined from calorimetric titration curves. The linear decreasing of log CMC with increasing the length of the hydrophobic chain is consistent with an increase in the hydrophobicity of the alkyl chain. Interestingly, with increasing the length of the alkyl chain, the DeltaHmic values of the surfactants with even numbered alkyl chains vary from endothermic to exothermic, whereas the DeltaHmic values of the surfactants with odd numbered alkyl chains are all endothermic and tend to become more endothermic. The pronounced even/odd effect in DeltaHmic is discussed with respect to the "donor-acceptor" interaction.     

Adsorption and thermal reactions of alkanethiols on pt(111): Dependence on the length of the alkyl chain

The adsorption and thermal decomposition of alkanethiols (R-SH, where R = CH3, C2H5, and C4H9) on Pt(111) were studied with temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) with synchrotron radiation. Dissociation of sulfhydryl hydrogen (RS-H) of alkanethiol results in the formation of alkanethiolate; the extent of dissociation at an adsorption temperature of 110 K depends on the length of the alkyl chain. At small exposure, all chemisorbed CH3SH, C2H5SH, and C4H9SH decompose to desorb hydrogen below 370 K and yield carbon and sulfur on the surface. Desorption of products containing carbon is observed only at large exposure. In thermal decomposition, alkanethiolate is proposed to undergo a stepwise dehydrogenation: R'-CH2S --> R'-CHS --> R'-CS, R' = H, CH3, and C3H7. Further decomposition of the R'-CS intermediate results in desorption of H2 at 400-500 K and leaves carbon and sulfur on the surface. On the basis of TPD and XPS data, we conclude that the density of adsorption of alkanethiol decreases with increasing length of the alkyl chain. C4H9SH is proposed to adsorb mainly with a configuration in which its alkyl group interacts with the surface; this interaction diminishes the density of adsorption of alkanethiols but facilitates dehydrogenation of the alkyl group.     

不对称Gemini表面活性剂在气/液界面的吸附动力学

合成出由1个亚甲基联接羟基和季铵基头基, 且带两根不同长度烷烃链的不对称Gemini表面活性剂CmH2m+1OCH2CH(OH)CH2N+(CH3)2C8H17Br(记为CmOhpNC8, m=10, 12, 14). 用最大泡压法研究了浓度低于临界胶团浓度时, CmOhpNC8在气/液界面上的吸附动力学. 结果表明, CmOhpNC8表现出很明显的吸附动力学效应. CmOhpNC8向新鲜气/液界面吸附时由扩散过程控制; 当界面上已具有一定吸附量时, 显示出吸附能垒Ea. 随着烷烃链的增长而明显降低, 表明长烷烃链的分子到达亚层后更容易插入表面层,这被归结为分子烷烃链间的疏水相互作用随着链增长而增强所致.     

Surfactants with an amide group "spacer": Synthesis of 3-(acylaminopropyl)trimethylammonium chlorides and their aggregation in aqueous solutions

The cationic surfactants RCONH(CH2)3N+(CH3)3Cl-, where RCO = C10, C12, C14, and C16, respectively, have been synthesized by reacting the appropriate carboxylic acids with 3-N,N-dimethylamino-1-propylamine, followed by dehydration of the ammonium salt produced. Reaction of the intermediates obtained (RCONH(CH2)3N(CH3)2) with methyl iodide, followed by chloride/iodide ion-exchange furnished the surfactants. Their adsorption and aggregation in aqueous solutions have been studied by surface tension, conductivity, EMF, static light scattering and FTIR. Additional information on the micellar structure was secured from effects of the medium on the 1H NMR chemical shifts and 2D ROESY spectra. Increasing the length of the acyl moiety increased the micelle aggregation number, and decreased the minimum area/surfactant molecule at the solution/air interface, the critical micelle concentration, and the degree of dissociation of the counter-ion. Gibbs free energies of adsorption at the solution/air interface and of micelle formation were calculated, and compared to those of 2-(acylaminoethyl)trimethylammonium chloride; alkyl trimethylammonium chloride; and benzyl(3-acylaminopropyl)dimethylammonium chloride surfactants. For both processes (adsorption and micellization), contributions of the CH2 groups in the hydrophobic tail and of the head-group to DeltaG0 were calculated. The former contribution was found to be similar to those of other cationic surfactants, whereas the latter one is more negative than those of 2-(acylaminoethyl)trimethylammonium chlorides and trimethylammonium chlorides. This is attributed to a combination of increased hydrophobicity of the head-group, and (direct- or water-mediated) intermolecular hydrogen-bonding of aggregated monomers, via the amide group. FTIR and NMR results indicated that the amide group lies at the micellar interface.     

Electrokinetic investigation of surfactant adsorption

Fuerstenau [D.W. Fuerstenau, in: M.L. Hair (Ed.), Dekker, New York, 1971, p. 143] has already discussed the role of hydrocarbon chain of surfactants, the effect of alkyl chain length, chain structure and the pH of the solution on the adsorption process of surfactants. Later Kosmulski [M. Kosmulski, Chemical Properties of Material Surfaces, Surfactant Science Series, vol. 102, Dekker, New York, Basel, 2001] included the effect of surfactant concentration, equilibration time, temperature and electrolyte in his approaches. Certainly, the character of the head groups of the surfactant and the properties of the adsorbent surface are the basis for the adsorption process. Different surfactants and adsorbents cause different adsorption mechanisms described firstly by Rosen [M.J. Rosen, Surfactants and Interfacial Phenomena, second ed., Wiley, New York, 1989]. These adsorption mechanisms and their influencing factors were studied by electrokinetic investigations. Here only changes of the charges at the surfaces could be detected. To control the results of electrokinetic investigations they were compared with results from ellipsometric measurements. In the case of surfactant adsorption the chain length was vitally important. It could be shown by the adsorption of alkyl trimethyl ammonium bromides onto polymer films spin coated at wafer surfaces. The influence of the chain length depending on surface properties of the polymer film was studied. Streaming potential measurements were applied for these investigations. The obtained results enabled us to calculate the molar cohesive free energy per mol of CH2-group in the alkaline chain of the surfactant if all other specific adsorption effects were neglected.     

Adsorption of alkyl polyglucosides on the solid/water interface: equilibrium effects of alkyl chain length and head group polymerization

The equilibrium adsorption behavior of two n-alkyl-beta-D-glucosides (octyl (C8G1) and decyl (C10G1)) and four n-alkyl-beta-D-maltosides (octyl (C8G2), decyl (C10G2), dodecyl (C12G2), and tetradecyl (C14G2)) from aqueous solution on a titania surface, as measured by ellipsometry, has been investigated. The main focus has been on the effect of changes in the alkyl chain length and headgroup polymerization, but a comparison with their adsorption on the silica/water and air/water interfaces is also presented. Some comparison with the corresponding adsorption of ethylene oxide surfactants, in particular C10E6 and C12E6, is given as well. For all alkyl polyglucosides, the maximum adsorbed amount on titania is reached slightly below the critical micelle concentration (cmc), where it levels off to a plateau and the amount adsorbed corresponds roughly to a bilayer. However, there is no evidence that this is the actual conformation of the surfactant assemblies on the surface, but the surfactants could also be arranged in a micellar network. On hydrophilic silica, the adsorbed amount is a magnitude lower than on titania, corresponding roughly to a layer of surfactants lying flat on the surface. A change in the alkyl chain length does not result in any change in the plateau molar adsorbed amount at equilibrium; however, the isotherm slope for the alkyl maltosides increases with increasing chain length. Headgroup polymerization on the other hand affects the adsorbed amount. The alkyl glucosides start adsorbing at lower bulk concentrations than the maltosides and equilibrate at higher adsorbed amounts above the cmc. When compared with the ethylene oxide (EO) surfactants, it is confirmed that the EO surfactants hardly adsorb on titania, since the measured changes in the ellipsometric angles are within the noise level. They do, however, adsorb strongly on silica.     

Preparation and dilute solution properties of model gemini nonionic surfactants

Dimeric poly(ethylene oxide) surfactants (or nonionic gemini surfactants) with the structure (Cn-2H2n-3CHCH2O(CH2CH2O)mH)2(CH2)6 (or GemnEm), where n is the alkyl length and m is the average number of ethylene oxides per head group, were synthesized. Surfactants were synthesized with alkyl chain lengths n = 12, 14, and 20 and m = 5, 10, 15, 20, and 30. Water solubilities and cloud temperatures at 1 wt% were determined by measuring turbidity as a function of temperature. Cloud temperatures increase with m and decrease with n, as observed for conventional surfactants. For large m the cloud temperatures were all above 100 degrees C. Surfactants with small m (i.e., n = 12, 14, m = 5 and n = 20, m = 10) were insoluble at room temperature, forming two-phase mixtures. Critical micelle concentrations (CMCs) were measured using a pyrene fluorescence method and are all in the range of 10(-7) to 10(-6) M, with the lowest values from the surfactants with large n and small m. CMCs of mixtures with both anionic and nonionic conventional (monomeric) surfactants were well described by an ideal mixing model.     

m-4-m型Gemini表面活性剂对铂电极上亚甲蓝吸附溶出伏安行为的影响

在0.050 mol·L-1磷酸盐缓冲溶液(PBS)中(pH=6.4), 亚甲蓝(MB)在铂电极上于-0.2 V产生一对不明显的伏安峰. 当向溶液中加入阳离子型Gemini表面活性剂Br-C16H33N+(CH3)2-C4H8-N+(CH3)2C16H33Br-, Br-C12H25N+(CH3)2-C4H8-N+(CH3)2C12H25Br-或Br-C8H17N+(CH3)2-C4H8-N+(CH3)2C8H17Br-后, 亚甲蓝的氧化峰显著增高, 还原峰降低, 氧化还原峰峰电位均正移, 这和表面活性剂与MB在电极表面的协同吸附有关. 联接基团相同的Gemini表面活性剂, 其影响程度随烷基链的增长而逐渐增强. 增大表面活性剂的浓度, MB的氧化峰先升高后缓慢降低. 如当Br-C16H33N+(CH3)2-C4H8-N+(CH3)2C16H33Br-的浓度为15 μmol·L-1 时, 5 μmol·L-1 MB的氧化峰峰电流达到最大值. 此外,溶液pH值和富集电位等对MB及表面活性剂的吸附亦有影响.     

Adsorption and adsolubilization of surfactants on titanium dioxides with functional groups

Adsorption of ionic surfactants on titanium dioxide with dodecyl chain groups or quaternary ammonium groups (XNm, where m is the carbon number of the alkyl chain, 4–16) was investigated. The adsorbed amount of cationic surfactants (dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide, DTAB; 1,2-bis(dodecyldimethylammonio)ethane dibromide, 2RenQ) on titanium dioxide with dodecyl chain groups increased with increasing concentration of the dodecyl chain due to hydrophobic interaction, where the adsorbed amounts of DTAB at saturation was considerably greater than those of 2RenQ. Adsorption of an anionic surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS) on XNm occurred mainly due to both electrostatic attraction force and hydrophobic interaction, depending on the alkyl chain length on XNm. On the other hand, adsorption of cationic surfactants, DTAC and 2RenQCl (their counter ions are chloride ions), on XNm was quite smaller compared with that of SDS due to electrostatic repulsion force. Adsolubilization of 2-naphthol in the surfactant-adsorbed layer on the titanium dioxides with the functional groups was also studied. The adsolubilized amounts of 2-naphthol on titanium dioxide with dodecyl chain groups were enhanced by adsorption of DTAB, but no distinct increase in the adsolubilization was observed by adsorption of 2RenQ. In the case of XNm, the amount of 2-naphthol adsorbed in the absence of surfactants increased with increasing alkyl chain length on XNm. Further, an appreciable increase in the adsolubilization of 2-naphthol on XNm with adsorption of 2RenQCl was observed. It was found from the admicellar partitioning coefficients that the adsolubilization of 2-naphthol preferably occurs on XNm by adsorption of SDS or 2RenQCl compared with that by DTAC. These differences in the adsolubilization were discussed by microproperties of the surfactant-adsorbed layers estimated using a spin probe.     

Adsorption kinetics of 1-alkanethiols on hydrogenated Ge(111)

We have investigated the liquid-phase self-assembly of 1-alkanethiols (HS(CH2)n-1CH3, n = 8, 16, and 18) on hydrogenated Ge(111), using attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy as well as water contact angle measurements. The infrared absorbance of C-H stretching modes of alkanethiolates on Ge, in conjunction with water contact angle measurements, demonstrates that the final packing density is a function of alkanethiol concentration in 2-propanol and its chain length. High concentration and long alkyl chain increase the steady-state surface coverage of alkanethiolates. A critical chain length exists between n = 8 and 16, above which the adsorption kinetics is comparable for all long alkyl chain 1-alkanethiols. The steady-state coverage of hexadecanethiolates, representing long-chain alkanethiolates, reaches a maximum at approximately 5.9 x 10(14) hexadecanethiolates/cm2 in 1 M solution. The characteristic time constant to reach a steady state also decreases with increasing chain length. This chain length dependence is attributed to the attractive chain-to-chain interaction in long-alkyl-chain self-assembled monolayers, which reduces the desorption-to-adsorption rate ratio (kd/ka). We also report the adsorption and desorption rate constants (ka and kd) of 1-hexadecanethiol on hydrogenated Ge(111) at room temperature. The alkanethiol adsorption is a two-step process following a first-order Langmuir isotherm: (1) fast adsorption with ka = 2.4 +/- 0.2 cm3/(mol s) and kd = (8.2 +/- 0.5) x 10(-6)(s-1); (2) slow adsorption with ka = 0.8 +/- 0.5 cm3/(mol s) and kd = (3 +/- 2) x 10(-6) s(-1).     

Adsorption of sugar surfactants at the air/water interface

The adsorption isotherms of n-decyl-β-D-glucoside (β-C(10)G(1)) as well as various n-alkyl-β-D-maltosides (β-C(n)G(2)) with n=8, 10, 12 and 14 were determined from surface tension measurements. Based on the analysis of the adsorption isotherms, the total free energy change of adsorption was determined and a novel method was proposed to determine the maximum adsorbed amount of surfactant. It can be concluded that the driving force for adsorption first increases with increasing adsorbed amount of the sugar surfactants and then levels off in a plateau. This peculiar behaviour is interpreted as formation of a thin liquid-like alkane film of overlapping alkyl chains at the air/water interface once a certain adsorbed amount is exceeded. The driving force of adsorption depends on the alkyl chain length only and is not affected by the type of the head group. The hydrophobic contribution to the standard free energy change of adsorption was compared with the values of sodium alkylsulfate and alkyltrimethylammonium bromide surfactants. This comparison reveals that the hydrophobic driving force of adsorption is the largest for the sodium alkylsulfates, whereas it is the same for the sugar surfactants and the alkyltrimethylammonium bromides.     

Adsorption of Gemini and Conventional Cationic Surfactants onto Montmorillonite and the Removal of Some Pollutants by the Clay

The adsorption of a series of gemini surfactants, [C(n)H(2n+1)N(+) (CH(3))(2)-CH(2)CH(2)](2).2Br(-), where n = 10, 12, 14, and 16, on clay (Na-montmorillonite) from their aqueous solution in 0.01 M KBr and the effect of this adsorption on the removal of 2-naphthol and 4-chlorophenol have been studied. Compared to those of conventional cationic surfactants with similar single hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups (C(n)H(2n+1)N(+)(CH(3))(3).Br(-), where n = 10, 12, 14, and 16), the molar adsorptions of the gemini and conventional surfactants are almost identical. This indicates that only one of the hydrophilic groups in the gemini molecule is adsorbed onto the clay and that the second hydrophilic is presumably oriented toward the aqueous phase, in contrast to the adsorption of the conventional surfactants, where the hydrophobic group is oriented toward the aqueous phase. Stability studies on dispersions of clay treated with the two types of surfactants confirm this. The slight increase in the moles of surfactant to values above the CEC of the clay with an increase in the carbon number of the hydrophobic chain indicates that adsorption through hydrophobic group interaction occurs in addition to the major ion exchange. Adsorption studies of the pollutants onto the clay treated by either the gemini or the conventional surfactants show that the former are both more efficient and more effective at removing the pollutants from the aqueous phase. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Application of mass spectrometry for study of the adsorption of multicomponent surfactant mixtures at the solid/solution interface

The selective adsorption of the components of a polydisperse gemini surfactant blend (alkylbenzenesulfonate-Jeffamine salt, ABSJ) in aqueous solution onto Berea sandstone, a reference material in enhanced oil recovery (EOR), was investigated. The individual adsorption isotherms of the four, benzene-ring containing ABSJ components with different alkyl chain lengths (ranging from decyl to tridecyl of the alkyl chain length) were simultaneously determined by using a four-channel electrospay ionization mass spectrometer (ESI-MS) for concentration analysis. This analytical device provided selective information (based on the differences in the mass to charge ratio) on the adsorption of each component in the mixed surfactant system. The overall isotherm obtained from the superposition of the individual isotherms determined by ESI-MS agreed well with the isotherm determined by UV spectrometry; the UV equipment is benzene-ring sensitive, irrespective of the alkyl chain length. The S-shaped isotherms reached a plateau at the critical micelle concentration. Longer-chain surfactants adsorbed preferentially over the short chain homologs, independently of solution concentration. This analytical device provided the net adsorption isotherm. Most analytical methods are not component selective, and thus they are not able to measure the individual isotherms in multicomponent solutions. Here, we report on a novel method which describes the selective determination of the individual adsorption isotherms of surfactants in a multicomponent mixture. The theoretical background of the method is described in detail.     

Hybrid fluorocarbon-hydrocarbon CO2-philic surfactants. 1. synthesis and properties of aqueous solutions

Six different hybrid fluorocarbon-hydrocarbon (F-H) sulfate and sulfonate surfactants, with variations in the relative F/H carbon chain length, have been synthesized and characterized in aqueous solution. These compounds have been targeted for potential activity in densified CO2. Tensiometric data and chemical analyses were consistent with surfactants of high chemical purity. Fluorination in terms of the F/H ratio exerts a strong control over all the surfactant physicochemical properties, including critical micelle concentrations (cmc's) and adsorption isotherms. One of these partially fluorinated surfactants (the sulfonate phi-F6H4) achieves very low surface tensions in water (gamma(cmc) approximately 19 mN m(-1)) more reminiscent of fully fluorinated double-chain compounds. Detailed 19F NMR studies revealed that omega'-CF3 groups can exhibit separate signals for monomeric and micellized forms, hence facilitating cmc determinations. Small-angle neutron scattering investigations confirmed the presence of ellipsoidal or extended disklike micelles, depending on the F-H chain asymmetry. For example, a symmetric hybrid F8H8 generates disklike micelles, whereas chain asymmetry in F8H4 or phi-F6H4 tends to drive cylindrical aggregation structures. These changes are consistent with variations in the surfactant packing parameter caused by the different chain F/H ratios. Hence, adsorption and aggregation are shown to respond in a predictable way to the molecular structure of these unusual surfactants.     

Thermodynamic study of adsorption of homologous anionic and cationic surfactants

The simplified form of an integral adsorption isotherm based on Butler's equation was applied to describe surface behavior of a series of anionic (sodium alkylsulfonates) and cationic (alkylpyridinium halides) surfactants. This theory allows for the calculation of the free energy of adsorption (Delta G jk) value corresponding to the ability of a particular surfactant to undergo adsorption. The obtained results indicate that the value of Delta G jk depends linearly on the length of the hydrocarbon chain as well as on the kind and concentration of the added inorganic electrolyte. Moreover, it has been found that in the case of surfactants, which have the same length of the alkyl chain and adsorb from solutions containing the same inorganic electrolyte, the charge of hydrophilic group has insignificant influence on the value of Delta G jk.     

Adsorption of a double-chain surfactant on an oxide

Adsorption of surfactants on solids is affected by the intermolecular packing in the adsorbed layer besides the driving forces. The adsorption behavior of a double-chain surfactant on silica is studied here along with that of the single-chain one. Comparison of adsorption of these two surfactants is warranted since while the single-chain surfactants form spherical micelles, the double-chain ones form bilayered vesicles in solution. While the adsorption of the single-chain surfactant reaches the plateau in a wide concentration range, the adsorption of the double-chain one increases sharply in a concentration range 10⁻⁵ mol/L up to the plateau. The single chain is found to form 1.5 monolayers under saturation coverage suggesting adsorption with reverse orientation at high concentration. In contrast, the adsorption of the double-chain surfactant under saturation coverage is equivalent to a 0.9 monolayer. Fluorescence tests revealed the hydrophobicity change of the surface with increase in adsorption. However, the hydrophobicity tests show the solid surface to be hydrophilic in this range; the double-chain surfactant is proposed to form a partial bilayer.     

Extractive spectrophotometric determination of non-ionic surfactants in water

The solvent extraction of non-ionic surfactants with potassium chloride and tetrabromophenolphthalein ethyl ester potassium salt has been studied, and a method developed for determining trace amounts of non-ionic surfactants in water spectrophotometrically. Various non-ionic surfactants of general type RO(CH(2)CH(2)O)(n)H (where R is an alkyl or alkylphenyl group and n is the number-average degree of polymerization) are extracted quantitatively into o-dichlorobenzene from the water sample, and reacted in the organic phase with tetrabromophenolphthalein ethyl ester potassium salt to give a coloured product, the absorbance of which is measured at 620 nm.     

Experimental observations on the scaling of adsorption isotherms for nonionic surfactants at a hydrophobic solid-water interface

The self-assembly of nonionic surfactants in bulk solution and on hydrophobic surfaces is driven by the same intermolecular interactions, yet their relationship is not clear. While there are abundant experimental and theoretical studies for self-assembly in bulk solution and at the air-water interface, there are only few systematic studies for hydrophobic solid-water interfaces. In this work, we have used optical reflectometry to measure adsorption isotherms of seven different nonionic alkyl polyethoxylate surfactants (CH3(CH2)I-1(OCH2CH2)JOH, referred to as CIEJ surfactants, with I = 10-14 and J = 3-8), on hydrophobic, chemically homogeneous self-assembled monolayers of octadecyltrichlorosilane. Systematic changes in the adsorption isotherms are observed for variations in the surfactant molecular structure. The maximum surface excess concentration decreases (and minimum area/molecule increases) with the square root of the number of ethoxylate units in the surfactant (J). The adsorption isotherms of all surfactants collapse onto the same curve when the bulk and surface excess concentrations are rescaled by the bulk critical aggregation concentration (CAC) and the maximum surface excess concentration. In an accompanying paper we compare these experimental results with the predictions of a unified model developed for self-assembly of nonionic surfactants in bulk solution and on interfaces.