Interaction Between 1-Dodecyl-3-Methylimidazolium Bromide and Sodium Carboxymethylcellulose in Aqueous Solution: Effect of Polymer Concentration

Effect of the concentration of water-soluble polyanion (sodium carboxymethylcellulose, NaCMC) on the interaction between a cationic surfactant (1-dodecyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide, C₁₂mimBr) and NaCMC in aqueous solution has been studied by isothermal titration microcalorimetry (ITC), conductivity, surface tension, and rheological measurements. From the surfactant/polymer interacting enthalpy, it can be deduced that the electrostatic attraction between the cationic surfactant and anionic polyelectrolyte causes an endothermic process, and the C₁₂mimBr monomers binding to the NaCMC chains to form micelle-like aggregates through hydrophobic interaction is an exothermic process. Increasing the NaCMC concentration causes the interaction between C₁₂mimBr and NaCMC to decrease, and the characteristic surfactant concentrations, including the critical aggregation surfactant concentration (CAC), the surfactant concentration to form free micelles (C_m), and the saturation concentration of surfactant on the NaCMC chains (C_S) to increase. Because of the strong electrostatic interaction between C₁₂mimBr and NaCMC, the formation of C₁₂mimBr/NaCMC complexes can lead to precipitation or redissolution depending on solution composition, so the critical precipitation concentration (C_P) and the onset of a redissolution concentration (C_R) has been determined by the electrical conductivity. The rheological results reveal a dramatic increase in solution viscosity around the CAC, attributed to interpolymer cross-linking through the formation of mixed micelles involving the carboxylic acid groups of NaCMC and the surfactant.     

Salt effect on the complex formation between polyelectrolyte and oppositely charged surfactant in aqueous solution

The complex formation between sodium carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC) and dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) at various sodium bromide concentrations (C(NaBr)) has been studied by microcalorimetry, turbidimetric titration, steady-state fluorescence measurements, and the fluorescence polarization technique. The addition of salt is found to influence the formation of NaCMC/DTAB complexes markedly. At C(NaBr) = 0.00, 0.01, 0.02, 0.10, and 0.20 M, DTAB monomers form micelle-like aggregates on NaCMC chains to form NaCMC/DTAB complexes above the critical surfactant concentration (C1). At C(NaBr) = 0.23 M, DTAB molecules first form micelles above a 2.46 mM DTAB concentration prompted by the added salt, and then, above C1 = 4.40 mM, these micelles can aggregate with NaCMC chains to form NaCMC/DTAB complexes. However, at C(NaBr) = 0.25 M, there is no NaCMC/DTAB complex formation because of the complete salt screening of the electrostatic attraction between DTAB micelles and NaCMC chains. It is also surprisingly found that the addition of NaBr can bring out a decrease in C1 at C(NaBr) < 0.20 M. Moreover, the addition of NaBr to a mixture of 0.01 g/L NaCMC and 3.6 mM DTAB can directly induce the formation of NaCMC/DTAB complexes. This salt-enhancing effect on the complex formation is explained as the result of competition between the screening of interaction of polyelectrolyte with surfactant and the increasing of polyelectrolyte/surfactant interaction owing to the growth of micelles by added salt. When the increasing of polyelectrolyte/surfactant interaction exceeds the screening of interaction, the complex formation can be enhanced.     

C14BE与NaCMC之间的相互作用(Ⅰ)──NaCMC对C14BE表面活性的影响

以表面张力法研究了NaCMC与C₁₄BE之间的相互作用。结果表明:在纯水介质中,NaCMC对C₁₄BE的表面活性影响较小,但NaCl的存在对C₁₄BE与NaCMC间的缔合有促进作用,混合体系的σ～C曲线出现两个转折点。二者开始缔合的浓度小于cmc,完成缔合的浓度大于cmc.pH=2时,形成C₁₄BE/H-CMC复合物,使C₁₄BE的表面活性降低,σ～C曲线亦出现两个转折点。     

Investigation on the interaction between C16TAB and NaCMC in semidilute aqueous solution based on rheological measurement

The rheological behavior of unentangled and entangled semidilute solution of anionic polyelectrolyte sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (NaCMC) containing cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (C₁₆TAB) was investigated. The results reveal that the rheological properties of these semidilute NaCMC solutions depend on the amount of C₁₆TAB added. In the unentangled semidilute NaCMC solution (0.5 g/L), the viscosity decreases with the increase of C₁₆TAB amount in the low surfactant concentration region (below the critical aggregation concentration, CAC). However, in high surfactant concentrations (above CAC), the viscosity decreases sharply with the increase in C₁₆TAB amount. It is found that viscosity change of NaCMC solution could be described using Colby’s model when surfactant concentrations are between CAC and saturated concentration (C_s), suggesting that no inter-polymer interaction exists between C₁₆TAB and NaCMC in the unentangled semidilute solution. However, for the entangled semidilute NaCMC solution (5 g/L), the addition of C₁₆TAB leads to an increase in viscosity. Meanwhile, the solution exhibits an enhanced shear thinning behavior due to adding more C₁₆TAB than 1 mM. The viscosity increase is ascribed to the physical cross linking of surfactant micelles with NaCMC chains. Furthermore, it is suggested that the enhanced shear thinning behavior results from weak interaction between NaCMC chains and C₁₆TAB micelles.     

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.     

Salt effect on the complex formation between cationic gemini surfactant and anionic polyelectrolyte in aqueous solution

Salt effect on the interaction of anionic polyelectrolyte sodium carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC) with cationic gemini surfactant hexamethylene-1,6-bis(dodecyldimethylammonium bromide) [C12H25(CH3)2N(CH2)6N(CH3)2C12H25]Br2 (C12C6C12Br2) has been investigated using turbidimetric titration, steady-state fluorescence, and mobility measurement. It is found that the critical aggregation concentration(cac) for C12C6C12Br2/NaCMC complexes depends little on addition of sodium bromide (NaBr). However, in the presence of nonionic surfactant Triton X-100 (TX100), the critical ionic surfactant mole fraction for the onset of complex formation (Yc) increases markedly with increasing NaBr concentration. These salt effects are supposed as the overall result from competition between the increase of interaction and the screening of interaction. The increase of interaction is referred to as the effect that the larger micelle with higher surface charge density induced by salt has a stronger interaction with oppositely charged polyelectrolyte. The screening of interaction is referred to as the salt screening of electrostatic attraction between the polymer chain and the surfactant. For complex formation between C12C6C12Br2 and NaCMC, the increase of interaction probably compensates the screening of interaction, leading to constant cac values at different salt concentrations. For complex formation between the C12C6C12Br2/TX100 mixed micelle and NaCMC, the screening of interaction probably plays a dominant role, leading to higher suppression of electrostatic binding of micelles to polyelectrolyte.     

Fabrication of carbon microcapsules containing silicon nanoparticles-carbon nanotubes nanocomposite by sol-gel method for anode in lithium ion battery

Carbon microcapsules containing silicon nanoparticles (Si NPs)-carbon nanotubes (CNTs) nanocomposite (Si-CNT@C) have been fabricated by a surfactant mediated sol-gel method followed by a carbonization process. Silicon nanoparticles-carbon nanotubes (Si-CNT) nanohybrids were produced by a wet-type beadsmill method. To obtain Si-CNT nanocomposites with spherical morphologies, a silica precursor (tetraethylorthosilicate, TEOS) and polymer (PMMA) mixture was employed as a structure-directing medium. Thus the Si-CNT/Silica-Polymer microspheres were prepared by an acid catalyzed sol-gel method. Then a carbon precursor such as polypyrrole (PPy) was incorporated onto the surfaces of pre-existing Si-CNT/silica-polymer to generate Si-CNT/Silica-Polymer@PPy microspheres. Subsequent thermal treatment of the precursor followed by wet etching of silica produced Si-CNT@C microcapsules. The intermediate silica/polymer must disappear during the carbonization and etching process resulting in the formation of an internal free space. The carbon precursor polymer should transform to carbon shell to encapsulate remaining Si-CNT nanocomposites. Therefore, hollow carbon microcapsules containing Si-CNT nanocomposites could be obtained (Si-CNT@C). The successful fabrication was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). These final materials were employed for anode performance improvement in lithium ion battery. The cyclic performances of these Si-CNT@C microcapsules were measured with a lithium battery half cell tests.     

Preparation and Characterization of Oil Containing Microcapsules Obtained by an Interaction Induced Coacervation

A novel method for microencapsulation of oil by coacervation is presented. The method employs segregative phase separation between sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (NaCMC) and a complex of hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC) and sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS), which results in coacervate formation. Microstructural properties of the coacervate can be varied by tuning NaCMC-HPMC/SDS interaction, which is achieved by changing SDS concentration. Microcapsules preparation route is presented. Encapsulation efficiency and dispersion properties of microcapsules with coacervate shell of different properties and different oil content were tested. Microcapsules with smallest droplet size, the narrowest droplet size distribution, and with lowest extractability of encapsulated oil were obtained when NaCMC-HPMC/SDS interaction results in formation of the most compact coacervate shell, no matter of the encapsulated oil.     

Phase Behavior in Mixtures of Cationic Dimeric and Anionic Monomeric Surfactants

The formation of mixed aggregates has been investigated in the mixture of oppositely charged surfactants vastly differing in molecular geometry and size. The systems considered is mixture of the cationic gemini surfactant, ethanediyl-1,2-bis(dodecyldimethylammonium bromide), and anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate. Various mixed nano- and microaggregates (micelles, vesicles, thin lamellar sheets, and tubules) were formed depending on bulk composition and total surfactant concentration. Two types of aggregates were found in precipitate, the tubules as prevailing aggregates on the gemini-rich side, and vesicles as prevailing aggregates on the SDS-rich side. The tubules formation was ascribed to mutual influence of specific structure of cationic dimeric surfactant and electrostatic interactions at the bilayer/solution interface. The proposed mechanism involved the formation of lamellar sheets, which rolled-up into tubules.     

壳聚糖─海藻酸钠微囊对蛋白质控制释放的研究

采用乳化法制备了可注射用壳聚糖海藻酸钠微囊, 其粒径小于２００ μｍ ,且具有相对较窄的近似高斯分布。牛血清白蛋白作为模型药物在微囊中的包埋率可超过５０ ％ 。通过壳聚糖在海藻酸钠微囊表面的复合,牛血清白蛋白从微囊中的持续释放时间从几个小时延长到半个月以上。     

Effect of oxygen plasma treatment on the release behaviors of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) microcapsules containing tocopherol

The biodegradable poly(epsilon-caprolactone) microcapsules (PCL) containing tocopherol (TC) were prepared by emulsion solvent evaporation method, and microcapsules were treated by oxygen plasma to enhance the hydrophilic microcapsules. The morphologies and thermal properties of the microcapsules were determined by SEM and DSC measurements. The microcapsules studied were characterized by surface free energy or work of adhesion through contact angle measurement. As a result, the features of the microcapsules could be adjusted by manufacturing condition, such as surfactant and core ratio. The surface free energy or work of adhesion of the microcapsules was increased with increasing the time of plasma treatment, which could be attributed to the increased hydrophilic groups during oxygen plasma treatment. The release profile of the microcapsules was determined by UV-vis spectroscopy and the microcapsules containing tocopherol showed the rapid release rate, as compared with untreated ones.     

二甲基硅油中溶剂挥发法制备微胶囊

以二甲基硅油(PDMS)作为连续相,用搅拌制乳——溶剂挥发的方法制备了聚丙烯腈(PAN)、醋酸纤维素(CA)、壳聚糖(CTS)等几种聚合物包覆Aliquat336(ALQ)、四甘醇(TEG)和牛血清白蛋白(BSA)等分离剂的微胶囊.其中挥发溶剂是N,N-二甲基甲酰胺(DMF),乙酸(AA)和水等极性溶剂.整个制备过程不需要添加任何其他表面活性剂,就可以得到分散性和球形度都很好的微胶囊,相比一般的溶剂挥发过程影响因素少,易于调控.制备得到的微胶囊表面致密,平均粒径在10～100μm之间.通过增加连续相粘度和降低聚合物溶液浓度的方法都可以使微胶囊粒径更小.在PDMS中添加一定量待包覆的萃取剂就可以实现对微胶囊包覆率的调控,实验中ALQ/PAN,TEG/CA和BSA/CTS微胶囊的包覆率分别可以达到0·43,0·38和0·08g/g.     

Microcapsules with macroholes prepared by the competitive adsorption of surfactants on emulsion droplet surfaces

We demonstrate a simple, unique method for preparing microcapsules with holes in their shells. Cross-linked polymelamine microcapsules are prepared by the phase-separation method. The holey shell of each microcapsule is synthesized on the surface of an oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion droplet where a water-soluble polymeric surfactant and an oil-soluble surfactant are competitively adsorbed. The water-soluble polymeric surfactant provides a reaction site for shell formation. The oil-soluble surfactant molecules seem to self-assemble while the shells are being formed, so holes appear where they assemble. The critical degree of surface coverage of an emulsion droplet by the water-soluble polymeric surfactant needed to form the holey shells is determined to be 0.90 from theoretical calculations in which competitive adsorption is considered. Theoretical consideration suggests that the size and quantity of the holes in the microcapsule shells are controlled by the composition of the surfactants adsorbed on the surface of an emulsion droplet. This theoretical consideration is confirmed by experiments. The prepared microcapsule with controllable macroholes in its shell has the potential to be used for controlled release applications and can be used to fabricate a microcapsule that encapsulates hydrophilic compounds.     

Thermal analysis of the water uptake by hydrocolloids

Water uptakes by the hydrocolloids gelatin, pectin and sodium carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC) and their mixtures, following storage at 20°C and 93% relative humidity (RH), were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry. An increase in water uptake was observed for each sample on storage. The majority of the moisture sorption occurred in the initial 2 h. Only non-freezable, bound water was present in gelatin, pectin and gelatin/pectin or NaCMC/pectin/gelatin mixtures during storage for 28 h. Loosely bound freezable and non-freezable, bound water were detected in NaCMC stored for 2 h. Water in mixtures of NaCMC/gelatin or NaCMC/pectin was predominately loosely bound freezable and non-freezable bound. The order of water uptake was gelatin<pectin/gelatin<pectin<NaCMC/pectin/gelatin<NaCMC/gelatin<NaCMC/pectin<NaCMC.     

Release behaviors of porous poly(butylene succinate)/poly(epsilon-caprolactone) microcapsules containing indomethacin

The biodegradable poly(butylene succinate)/poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PBS/PCL) microcapsules containing indomethacin were prepared by emulsion solvent evaporation method. The morphologies, thermal properties, and release behaviors of PBS/PCL microcapsules were investigated. As a result, the microcapsules exhibited porous and spherical form in the presence of gelatin as a surfactant. From the DSC result, the PBS/PCL microcapsules showed the two exothermic peaks meaning the melting points of PCL and PBS. The results of FT-IR and DSC proved that the PBS and PCL were mixed so that the PBS/PCL microcapsules were composed of two wall-forming materials. And the release rate of indomethacin from the microcapsules was decreased with increasing the PCL content. It was noted that an addition of PCL on the PBS led to the decrease of pore size in the PBS/PCL microcapsules.     

Fabrication of carbon microcapsules containing silicon nanoparticles for anode in lithium ion battery

Carbon microcapsules containing silicon (Si) nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared from silicon-embedded polymer microspheres. The precursors, polymeric microspheres containing silicon nanoparticles were fabricated by a facile emulsion polymerization with surfactants, sodium dodecyl sulfate and dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide. The effects of monomer, surfactant concentration, and ionic character of surfactant on the formation of microspheres were demonstrated. The successful fabrication of polystyrene/polydivinylbenzene microspheres with Si NPs was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. Subsequent thermal treatment produced carbon microcapsules having Si NPs. Volume shrinkage of polymer spheres during carbonization step resulting in the formation of internal free spaces in carbon microcapsules is the critical process in this experiment, which can accommodate volume changes of Si NPs during Li ion charge/discharge processes. The successful encapsulation of Si NPs with exterior carbon shell was clearly shown by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The change in size distribution and structure of polymer and carbon microspheres was also revealed. The cyclic performances of these Si@C microcapsules were measured with lithium battery half cell tests.     

Interfacial molecular array behaviors of mixed surfactant systems based on sodium laurylglutamate and the effect on the foam properties

The foam properties of mixtures of an eco-friendly amino-acid derived surfactant sodium lauroylglutamate (LGS) interacting with cationic surfactant dodecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (DTAB), nonionic surfactant laurel alkanolamide (LAA) and anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfonate (SDS), were investigated, respectively. It was amazing that the three investigated binary-mixed systems all showed obviously synergism effect on foaming, though LGS/DTAB catanionic mixture showed remarkable synergistic effect with no surprise. The equilibrium and dynamic surface activity, along with the interfacial molecular array behaviors of binary-mixed systems with different molar ratios at air/water surface were also studied. Moreover, the theoretical simulation was employed to investigate how the interfacial behaviors of surfactants at air/water surface affected the foam properties. The study might provide the meaningful guidance for utilizing the LGS-based systems, especially in constructing eco-friendly foam systems in the application areas of cosmetics, medicine and detergent.     

Supramolecular hydrogel microcapsules via cucurbit[8]uril host–guest interactions with triggered and UV-controlled molecular permeability

Host–guest assembly in droplet-based microfluidics opens a new avenue for fabricating supramolecular hydrogel microcapsules with high monodispersity and controlled functionality. In this paper, we demonstrate a single emulsion microdroplet platform to prepare microcapsules with supramolecular hydrogel skins from host molecule cucurbit[8]uril and guest polymer anthracene-functionalized hydroxyethyl cellulose. In contrast to construction of microcapsules from a droplet-in-droplet double emulsion, here the electrostatic attraction between charged polymer and surfactant facilitates formation of defined supramolecular hydrogel skins in a single emulsion. Furthermore, by taking advantage of dynamic interactions and the tunable cross-linked supramolecular hydrogel network, it is possible to prepare microcapsules with triggered and UV-controlled molecular permeability. These could be potentially used in a delivery system for e.g. agrochemicals, nutraceuticals or cosmetics.     

Aspects on the interaction between sodium carboxymethylcellulose and calcium carbonate and the relationship to specific site adsorption

The mechanisms of adsorption and association for sodium carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC) in calcium carbonate suspensions have been determined from isothermal calorimetry and adsorption measurements. The equilibrium adsorption isotherms were determined by two different methods of separation; a depletion method and a serum exchange method. The enthalpy of dilution for NaCMC was determined on supernatants obtained from the calcium carbonate suspensions in order to investigate the interaction between NaCMC and dissolved species from the mineral. For comparison, NaCMC was injected into CaCl(2) solutions in order to determine the role of calcium ions in the adsorption process. The initial part of the adsorption isotherm showed a quasi-infinite slope indicating a high affinity for the NaCMC to the calcium carbonate surface, which was significantly reduced when anionic sodium polyacrylate was preadsorbed onto the calcium carbonate implying competitive adsorption. An endothermic enthalpy change was observed between the NaCMC and the calcium carbonate surface, suggesting attachment of the carboxylic acid groups onto the hydrated calcium sites. A similar endothermic enthalpy was observed when NaCMC was injected into CaCl(2) solutions or supernatants obtained from the calcium carbonate suspensions, indicating a complexation of carboxylic acid groups and hydrated calcium ions. It was concluded that the mechanisms of interaction of NaCMC in calcium carbonate suspensions are primarily an association between NaCMC and Lewis acid sites on the calcium carbonate surface and the formation of NaCMC-Ca(2+) complexes in the bulk solution, both of which will be affected by the amount of anionic sodium polyacrylate present.     

Study of the interfacial polycondensation of isocyanate in the preparation of benzalkonium chloride loaded microcapsules

The preparation of benzalkonium chloride loaded microcapsules was performed by interfacial polycondensation of isocyanates. The present study was made in order to clarify parameters affecting microcapsule wall formation during the course of polymerization. The results presented here show that many interrelated parameters are involved during the microcapsule formation. Each individual component introduced in the preparation was shown to have an effect either on the morphology of the microcapsules or on the mechanical resistance. Benzalkonium chloride seemed to interact mainly in the interfacial polymer precipitation step through a salt effect, or influence the polycondensation reaction rate acting as a catalyst. A contribution of the hydroxylic functions of the surfactant in the polycondensation reaction of the isocyanate was also highlighted. Finally, the organic phase composition was found to be able to modulate the reactivity of hydroxylic functions of the surfactant, leading to very slow reactions in pure xylene. These effects were related to the characteristics of the microcapsules obtained according to different compositions of the formulation system.