Effect of Oil/Water Ratios on the Phase Behavior and the Solubilization Ability of Microemulsion Systems Containing Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate

An α–ε–β fish-like phase diagram of three phase microemulsions was proposed and used to investigate the phase behavior of the microemulsion systems sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)/alcohol/oil/water at various oil/water ratios. Related physicochemical properties of the microemulsion systems were calculated. As the oil/water mass ratio increases, the solubility (ε _B) of the alcohol increases, while both the mass fraction of alcohol in the interfacial layer (A ^S) and the solubilization ability (SP ^∗) decrease. The effect of oils on the properties of the microemulsion systems was investigated.