Effect of inorganic salts on the aggregation behavior of branched block polyether at air/water and n-heptane/water interfaces

The effect of inorganic salts (CaCl₂, MgCl₂, NaCl, NaI and NaSCN) on the aggregation behavior of a synthesized polyether with seven poly (ethylene oxide)-b-poly (propylene oxide)-b-poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO-PPO-PEO) arms attached to a tetraethylenepentamine core (simplified AE73) at air/water and n-heptane/water interfaces has been investigated by interfacial tension and oscillating bubble methods. The additions of NaCl, CaCl₂, and MgCl₂ may facilitate the micellization of AE73 and increase its maximum interfacial excess concentration (Γ_max) due to the “salting out” effect, while NaSCN induces opposite effect and NaI exerts little influence. The adsorption kinetics of AE73 is controlled not only by the diffusion between the bulk solution and the interfacial layer but also by the energetic and steric barriers generated by the already adsorbed molecules. The adsorption relaxation time of AE73 is reduced with the addition of salts and this phenomenon is more prominent at the n-heptane/water interface. The “salting in” ions decrease the dilational modulus of AE73 while the “salting out” ions induce an opposite effect. The mechanisms of the interaction between inorganic ions and the polyether were discussed; the difference in aggregation behavior between linear and branched block polyethers were also compared.