Detecting the micellization of anionic surfactants by a colorimetric and fluorescent probe based on electrostatic attraction

A novel fluorescent probe labeled with cation, N-n-alkyl-4-(1-methylpiperazine)-1,8-naphthalimide iodide ([C₈ndi]I), has been applied as a colorimetric and fluorometric probe for detecting the micellization of anionic surfactants. The critical micellization concentration (cmc) of anionic surfactants can be conveniently determined by the change on absorption and fluorescence spectra of [C₈ndi]I. The probe displays highly sensitive and selective spectroscopic responses accompanied with distinctive color change (from colorless to light green). These methods are proved to be reliable as the results are in accordance with those of the standard methods. Besides the advantage of visual detection, the multiple spectroscopic methods (absorption and fluorescence) by using [C₈ndi]I as probe are also simple and convenient. One can choose any spectroscopic parameter, such as position or intensity of the absorption and emission peaks, to monitor the micelle formation process of anionic surfactants.     

Thermodynamics of aqueous carbohydrate surfactant solutions

The paper deals with the application of the micelle formation theory, developed by Nagarajan and Ruckenstein [R. Nagarajan, E. Ruckenstein, Langmuir 7 (1991) 2934–2969] and Nagarajan [R. Nagarajan, in: K. Esumi (Ed.), Structure–Performance Relationships in Surfactants, Dekker, New York, 1997, pp. 1–81; R. Nagarajan, Adv. Colloid Interface Sci. 26 (1986) 205-264] to various n-alkyl-β-d-glucopyranoside surfactants, differing in the surfactant tail length (n-octyl-β-d-glucopyranoside C₈G₁, n-decyl-β-d-glucopyranoside C₁₀G₁ and dodecyl-β-d-glucopyranoside C₁₂G₁). The model predicts that the carbohydrate surfactant molecules assemble for energetic reasons in spherical bilayer vesicles. The critical micellar concentration as function of the temperature shows a minimum value. The formed micellar aggregates exhibit a broad distribution of sizes. It is demonstrated in this study that the thermodynamic theory in combination with phase separation thermodynamics can be used successfully to described the phase separation, which occurs for the system C₁₀G₁+water and C₁₂G₁+water at low surfactant concentrations.     

Thermodynamics of micellization of alkylimidazolium surfactants in aqueous solution

Alkylimidazolium salts are a very important class of compounds. So far, calorimetry has hardly been used to characterize their solution behaviour. The enthalpies obtained from indirect methods have an intrinsic large uncertainty, and nowadays it is clear that calorimetry is the most sensitive technique for directly measuring the thermodynamic properties of aggregation.In this work, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) was used along with conductivity to determine the thermodynamics of aggregation of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium chlorides ([C_nmim]Cl, n = 8, 10, 12, and 14) in aqueous solution. The critical micelle concentrations, cmc, were obtained from conductivity and calorimetry, and the enthalpies of micelle formation, ΔH_mic, were derived from the calorimetric titrations. From conductivity, we could also derive the values for the degree of ionisation of the micelles (α), the molar conductivity (Λ^M) of the [C_nmim]Cl micellar species and the molar conductivity at infinite dilution (Λ^∞) for the [C_nmim]⁺ cations.Values are therefore reported for the enthalpy (ΔH_mic), the Gibbs free energy (ΔG_mic) and entropy (ΔS_mic) changes for micelle formation. Further, the aggregate sizes and aggregation numbers were obtained by light scattering (LS) measurements.The observed variation of the thermodynamic properties with the alkyl chain length is discussed in detail and compared with the traditional cationic surfactants 1-alkyl-trimethylammonium chlorides, [C_nTA]Cl. The difference in the values of the thermodynamic parameters for both types of surfactants is here related to the structure of their head groups.     

Effect of imidazolium-based ionic liquids on the aggregation behavior of twin-tailed cationic gemini surfactant in aqueous solution

Micellization behavior of the twin-tailed surfactants can be modulated by the addition of various modifiers. Ionic liquids (ILs) are one of them and are documented here. The beauty of these environmentally benign neoteric molecules lies in their structural versatility. Here, we have investigated the effect of three ILs: 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([C₄mim][Br]), 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([C₆mim][Br]), and 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([C₈mim][Br]) on the aggregation and surface adsorption behavior of cationic gemini surfactant, bis(hexadecyldimethyl ammonium)propane dibromide (16-3-16) through experimentally measured electrical conductivities, surface tensions, and by spectral methods (UV-vis absorbance and fluorescence measurements). The main focus of the study is to observe the effect of added ILs on the critical micelle concentration (cmc), various surface parameters, aggregation number, and size of the aggregates of gemini surfactant. The results show that the more hydrophobic ILs, that is, [C₆mim][Br] and [C₈mim][Br] behave as electrolyte at lower concentration and cosurfactant at higher concentration, whereas moderately hydrophobic IL [C₄mim][Br] acts as an electrolyte at all concentration ranges studied. The modulating effects of ILs were also compared with conventional electrolyte (NaBr) at similar conditions.     

Using Calixarenes To Model Polyelectrolyte Surfactant Nucleation Sites

The formation of mixed micelles composed of dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (C₁₂TAB) and a hexamethylated p‐sulfonatocalix[6]arene (SC6HM) was studied by several techniques. It was found that above the critical aggregation concentration the concentrations of free and micellized surfactant are strongly related to that of SC6HM. When there is free SC6HM in solution, the addition of C₁₂TAB mainly results in an increase in the concentration of micellized surfactant, but when all SC6HM has been aggregated, the addition of C₁₂TAB results in a substantial increase in the concentration of free surfactant in solution. When the concentration of free surfactant is equal to the critical micelle concentration of the pure system, a second independent aggregation process is observed. This aggregation behavior has many features that are similar to those of more complex systems that involve surfactants in the presence of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes. In this way, calixarenes can serve as simple models to mimic polyelectrolytes and to gain insight into the complex behavior displayed by these macromolecules.     

Aggregation behavior of imidazolium-based chiral surfactant in aqueous solution

A novel imidazolium-based chiral surfactant with a Y-type hydrophobic chain, (S)-(+)-1-(2,3-bis(octanoyloxy)propyl)-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([Bopmim]Cl), was synthesized. The aggregation behavior of [Bopmim]Cl in aqueous solution was then investigated by surface tension, electrical conductivity, ¹H NMR, and fluorescence measurements. Compared with [C₁₂mim]Cl, the critical micelle concentration for [Bopmim]Cl is lower, indicating that the novel chiral surfactant has superior capacity to form micelles. A larger value of pC ₂₀, a greater minimum area per surfactant molecule (A _min), a smaller degree of counterion binding (β), and a looser aggregate are caused by the relatively larger Y-type hydrophobic chain of [Bopmim]Cl. Furthermore, analysis of the ¹H NMR spectra revealed that the introduced Y-type hydrophobic chain may prevent the hydrophobic group from forming an extended chain configuration and cause a changeover from trans to gauche conformations upon micellization. The micelles of the novel chiral surfactant may provide some potential applications in the stereochemical recognition of surfaces or of biological structures.     

Novel Cationic Gemini Surfactants Based on Piperazine: Synthesis,Surface Activity,and Foam Ability

A series of novel Gemini surfactants C_n-pi-C_n with piperazine moiety as spacer was synthesized and characterized by IR, ¹H NMR, and mass spectra. Their surface activities were evaluated by surface tension, electrical conductivity, and steady-state fluorescence. The obtained results indicated that the synthesized Gemini surfactants exhibited lower critical micelle concentration (cmc) and surface tension (γ_cmc) compared with traditional surfactants. The steady-state fluorescence measurement and electrical conductivity were recorded to demonstrate the accuracy of cmc values. In addition, the micellization was evaluated using conductivity measurement in the temperature range of 298–308 K. The foamability and foam stability of these Gemini surfactants were also examined. In which, the Gemini surfactant with the shortest chain (C₁₂) showed the best foamability but the poorest foam stability. Hydrophile–lipophile balance and emulsifying ability were studied and a comparatively poor emulsifying ability displayed.     

Micelle formation by N-alkyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium bromide in ethylammonium nitrate

The aggregation behavior of long-chain pyrrolidinium ionic liquids, N-alkyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium bromide (C_nMPB, n = 12, 14, and 16) was investigated by surface tension measurements in a protic room temperature ionic liquid, ethylammonium nitrate (EAN), at various temperatures. A series of parameters, including critical micelle concentration (CMC), surface tension at the CMC (γ_CMC), effectiveness of surface tension reduction (Π_CMC), maximum surface excess concentration (Γ_max), and the area occupied per surfactant molecule at the air/solution interface (A_min) were estimated. From these parameters, we demonstrated that the surface activity of C_nMPB is much lower in EAN than that in water. Comparing C_nMPB with alkylimidazolium bromides and alkylpyridinium bromides, the effect of the cationic group on micellization in EAN was also investigated. The thermodynamic analysis of micellization revealed that the micelle formation process for C_nMPB (n = 12, 14, and 16) is entropy-driven at low temperature and enthalpy-driven at high temperature. The micelle aggregation number estimated from the ¹H NMR data is about 21 for C₁₂MPB in EAN, which is much less than that in water. The results of the surface tension measurements and ¹H NMR spectra indicate that the [CH₃CH₂NH₃]⁺ cations of EAN exist around the head groups of C_nMPB when micelles are formed and the NO₃⁻ ions are adsorbed at the micelle surface.     

Aggregation behavior of alkyl triphenyl phosphonium bromides in aprotic and protic ionic liquids

The aggregation behavior of alkyltriphenylphonium bromides, C _n TPB (n?=?12 and 14), has been investigated in two different room-temperature ionic liquids (ILs), the aprotic 1-butyl-3-metyllimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([bmim][BF₄]), and the protic ethylammonium nitrate (EAN). The critical micelle concentration was determined by the surface tension measurements. The calculated thermodynamic parameters based on surface tension measurements at various temperatures indicate that the micellization for C _n TPB in both aprotic [bmim][BF₄] and protic EAN is enthalpy-driven. But stronger solvophobic interactions presented between C _n TPB and protic EAN than aprotic [bmim][BF₄]. ¹H NMR spectra were further conducted to reveal that ethylammonium cation can insert into the micelle while imidazole cation only locates among the head groups of C _n TPB.     

Interaction between biosurfactant surfactin and cationic surfactant cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide in mixed micelle

An anionic/cationic mixed surfactant aqueous system of surfactin and cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) at different molar ratios was studied by surface tension and fluorescence methods (pH 8.0). Various parameters that included critical micelle concentration (cmc), micellar composition (X ₁), and interaction parameter (β ^m) as well as thermodynamic properties of mixed micelles were determined. The β ^m was found to be negative and the mixed system was found to have much lower cmc than pure surfactant systems. There exits synergism between anionic surfactin and cationic CTAB surfactants. The degree of participation of surfactin in the formation of mixed micelle changes with mixing ratio of the two surfactants. The results of aggregation number, fluorescence anisotropy, and viscosity indicate that more packed and larger aggregates were formed from mixed surfactants than unmixed, and the mixed system may be able to form vesicle spontaneously at high molar fraction of surfactin.     

Modulation of the aggregation behaviour and physicochemical properties of 1-dodecyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide in aqueous solutions by β-CD

The modulation of aggregation behaviour of ionic liquids (ILs) in aqueous media is one of the important research topics. In the present work, aggregation behaviour of 1-dodecyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([C₁₂mim]Br) modulated by beta-cyclodextrin (β-CD) has been investigated by using conductivity, volume, fluorescence, dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy techniques. The results suggested that the addition of β-CD significantly affects the aggregation of [C₁₂mim]Br in aqueous solutions. For example, the apparent critical micelle concentration increases with the increase of β-CD concentration; the average micellar size reduced with the increasing concentration of β-CD, and the process for micelle formation of [C₁₂mim]Br in aqueous β-CD solution is driven by entropy at lower temperature, while driven by enthalpy at higher temperature. It is expected that findings in this study would shed light on the potential applications of IL in supramolecular chemistry.     

Micellization behavior of the ionic liquid lauryl isoquinolinium bromide in aqueous solution

The micellization behavior of the ionic liquid lauryl isoquinolinium bromide ([C₁₂iQuin]Br) in aqueous solution has been assessed using surface tension, electrical conductivity, and ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements. The results reveal that the critical micelle concentration (CMC) and constant surfactant tension (γ _cac) are lower than that of butyl isoquinolinium bromide ([C₄iQuin]Br), octyl isoquinolinium bromide ([C₈iQuin]Br, and lauryl pyridinium bromide ([C₁₂Pyr]Br). ¹H NMR spectra show the evidence of paralleled π-stacking of adjacent isoquinoline rings. To elucidate the effect of the π–π interactions on the aggregation process, thermodynamic parameters such as the standard free energy, enthalpy, and entropy of aggregation have been discussed. These parameters are evaluated from the CMC with temperature by fitting these values to expressions derived from a micellization thermodynamic model. The enthalpy–entropy compensation phenomenon has been observed in the micellization process of [C₁₂iQuin]Br in water, and the presence of isoquinoline cations is responsible for the decrease in the ΔH _mic ^? , compared with [C₁₂Pyr]Br which has the same alkyl chain and counter-ion.     

Micelle structure and molecular self‐diffusion in isononylphenol ethoxylate–water systems

The structure and dynamic properties of micellar solutions of nonionic surfactants of a series of isononylphenol ethoxylates, C₉H₁₉C₆H₄O(C₂H₄O)_nH (where n = 6,8,9,10, and 12), were studied by NMR diffusometry, dynamic light scattering, and viscosimetry. The sizes of the micelles were determined for different surfactants and at different surfactant concentrations. The numbers of water molecules bound by a micelle and by one oxyethylene group of the surfactant were estimated. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Studies on the Physicochemical Properties of 3-Alkoxyl-2-hydroxypropyl Trimethylammonium Chloride–Sodium Dodecyl Sulfonate Binary-Surfactant Aqueous Systems

Surface tension, micelle formation, surface adsorption, and solubilization of dimethylaminoazobenzene (DMAB) are studied in aqueous solutions of 3-alkoxyl-2-hydroxypropyl trimethylammonium chloride (alkoxyl = C_nH_2n+1O, n = 8, 12, 14, 16), of sodium dodecyl sulfonate, and of mixtures of these cationic surfactants and the anionic surfactant at 40°C. Synergistic effects on micelle formation, surface tension reduction, and solubilization enhancement of DMAB are observed in the cationic–anionic mixed surfactant systems. The experimental results are discussed in the light of the interactions between the two kinds of surfactant ions.     

Micellization of anionic gemini surfactants and their interaction with polyacrylamide

A series of anionic gemini surfactants have been synthesized. The surface properties and micellization process of as-prepared sulfonate gemini surfactants (SGS) and carboxylate gemini surfactant (CGS) have been studied by surface tension measurement and isothermal titration microcalorimetry. Meanwhile, the interaction of these five surfactants with polyacrylamide (PAM) was investigated using surface tension, steady-state fluorescence measurement, and isothermal titration microcalorimetry. The results show that the critical micelle concentrations (CMCs) of above-mentioned surfactants are more than 1 order of magnitude lower than those of corresponding single chain surfactants. Moreover, the enthalpy of micelle formation (ΔH _mic) for the investigated gemini surfactants is negative. In the surfactant–PAM systems, the thermodynamic parameters of binding have also been determined. The conclusion may be drawn that the binding strength of SGS onto PAM is stronger than that of CGS, resulting from more compact structure of SGS aggregates. With increasing surfactant hydrophobicity, the values of ΔH _agg become more exothermic and a ΔS _agg decrease was observed. Therefore, the interaction between SGS and PAM is enthalpy-driven.     

Interfacial and Thermodynamic Properties of Anionic‐Nonionic Mixed Surfactant System: Influence of Hydrophobic Chain Length of the Nonionic Surfactant

The influence of hydrophobic chain length in nonionic surfactants on interfacial and thermodynamics properties of a binary anionic‐nonionic mixed surfactant was investigated. In this study, nonionic surfactants lauric‐monoethanolamide (C₁₂ MEA) and myrisitic‐monoethanolamide (C₁₄ MEA) were mixed with an anionic surfactant, α‐olefin sulfonate (AOS). The critical micelle concentration (cmc), maximum surface excess (Γ_max), and minimum area per molecule (A_min) were obtained from surface tension isotherms at various temperatures. The thermodynamic parameters of micellization and adsorption were also computed. Micellar aggregation number (N_agg), micropolarity, and binding constant (K_sv) of pure and mixed surfactant system was calculated by fluorescence measurements. Rubingh's method was applied to calculate interaction parameters for the mixed surfactant systems.     

Influence of micellar media on the fluorescence of various benzo- and methyl-quinolizinium salts

The bebaviour of several different micelar systems (anionic, cationic and non-ionic) on the fluorescence of quinolizinium salts is studied. Important factors, such as pH and ionic strength that influence fluorescence parameters, are discussed. Fourteen quinolizinium salts (benzo and methyl derivatives) are examined as fluorescent probes in micellar media. All of them showed a marked increase of fluorescence intensity when sodium dodecyl sulfate solutions of critical micelle concentration (CMC) are added. The presence of non-ionic surfactants did not change the fluorescent emission of the probes. The emission intensity is much decreased when N-cetyl-N,N,N- trimethylammonium bromide concentrations are above the CMC. Changes in pH ido not significantly affect the fluorescence intensity of the benzo derivatives. Increasing the ionic strength decreases the fluorescence. For 9-cyanobenzo[a]phenanthro [9,10-g] quinolizinium chloride, the spectrum changes when the surfactant concentration is high than the CMC thereforre this compound is considered to be a good fluorescent probe in icell     

Interaction between two homologues of cationic surface active ionic liquids and the PEO-PPO-PEO triblock copolymers in aqueous solutions

The interaction of nonionic triblock copolymers of poly(ethyleneoxide) (PEO) and poly(propyleneoxide) (PPO) (PEO_nPPO_mPEO_n) with a series of cationic surface-active ionic liquids in aqueous solutions have been investigated. The cationic surface-active ionic liquids include 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide (C_nmimBr, n?=?8, 10, 12, 14, 16) and N-alkyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium bromide (C_nMPB, n?=?12, 14, 16). For different polymer-surfactant systems, the critical aggregation surfactant concentration (cac), the surfactant concentration to form free micelles (C _m), and the saturation concentration of surfactant on the polymer chains (C ₂) were determined using isothermal titration microcalorimetry (ITC) and conductivity measurements. The structure of the formed aggregates depended strongly on the hydrophobicity of the surfactant and the ratio of polymer/surfactant concentration. For C₈mimBr, there were not any micelle-like surfactant?Cpolymer clusters detected in the solution, and only micelles appeared. For other surfactants, the polymer?Csurfactant aggregates were formed in the solution, which was verified by the appearance of a broad endothermic peak in the ITC thermograms. The intensity of polymer?Csurfactant interaction increased with the hydrophobicity of the surfactants and the polymers but was not affected by the surfactant headgroups.     

Aggregation behavior of silicone surfactants in ethylammonium nitrate ionic liquid

The aggregation behavior of two silicone surfactants (monomeric and Gemini) was studied by surface tension measurements in a room temperature ionic liquid, ethylammonium nitrate (EAN), at various temperatures. A series of parameters, including critical micelle concentration (CMC), surface tension at the CMC (γ _CMC), adsorption efficiency (pC ₂₀), and effectiveness of surface tension reduction (Π _CMC), were obtained. By comparing the silicone surfactants with traditional surfactants, we deduced that the surface activity of the silicone surfactants in EAN was superior to the activity of other surfactants. In addition, from the CMC values and their temperature dependence, we estimated the thermodynamic parameters of the micelle formation, $ \Delta G_m^0 $ , $ \Delta H_m^0 $ , and $ \Delta S_m^0 $ . It was revealed that the micellization of the silicone surfactants is entropy driven at low temperature and enthalpy driven at high temperature. Isothermal titration calorimetry measurements were also carried out to study the micellization of Gemini silicone surfactant. ¹H NMR was performed to study the silicone surfactant micelle formation mechanism in EAN.     

Effects of additional salts on the interfacial tension of crude oil/zwitterionic gemini surfactant solutions

Zwitterionic gemini surfactants, which have the advantages of both zwitterionic and gemini surfactants, have been widely used in various disciplines. Sulfobetaine-type zwitterionic gemini surfactants consisting of 1,2-bis[N-methyl-N-(3-sulfopropyl)-alkylammonium]ethane (2C_nSb with 6, 8 and 10 carbon atoms) were evaluated for their interfacial activities at the water/crude oil interface. The 2C₁₀Sb molecules showed a remarkable ability to decrease the interface tension (IFT) of water/crude oil, and the degree of decrease was much greater than those in either zwitterionic or gemini surfactant systems by at least two orders of magnitude. Furthermore, the effects of salts (NaCl, CaCl₂, and MgCl₂) on the IFT of the 2C₁₀Sb system were thoroughly investigated. Interestingly, the delicate balance between the effects of additional cations and the intramolecular interactions of 2C₁₀Sb molecules played crucial roles in the interfacial arrangements of 2C₁₀Sb molecules, which were mainly dependent on the bonding abilities of the cations. Moreover, a zwitterionic surfactant and a cationic gemini surfactant were employed in control experiments to verify the proposed mechanisms.