Adsorption of anionic surfactants on positively charged polystyrene particles II

In the case of cationic polystyrene latex, the adsorption of anionic surfactants involves a strong electrostatic interaction between both the particle and the surfactant, which may affect the conformation of the surfactant molecules adsorbed onto the latex-particle surface. The adsorption isotherms showed that adsorption takes place according to two different mechanisms. First, the initial adsorption of the anionic surfactant molecules on cationic polystyrene surface would be due to the attractive electrostatic interaction between both ionic groups, laying the alkyl-chains of surfactant molecules flat on the surface as a consequence of the hydrophobic interaction between these chains and the polystyrene particle surface, which is predominantly hydrophobic. Second, at higher surface coverage the adsorbed surfactant molecules may move into a partly vertical orientation with some head groups facing the solution. According to this second mechanism the hydrophobic interactions of hydrocarbon chains play an important role in the adsorption of surfactant molecules at high surface coverage. This would account for the very high negative mobilities obtained at surfactant concentration higher than 5×10^–7 M. Under high surface-coverage conditions, some electrophoretic mobility measurements were performed at different ionic strength. The appearance of a maximum in the mobility-ionic strength curves seems to depend upon alkyl-chain length. Also the effects of temperature and pH on mobilities of anionic surfactant-cationic latex particles have been studied. The mobility of the particles covered by alkyl-sulphonate surfactants varied with the pH in a similar manner as it does with negatively charged sulphated latex particles, which indicates that the surfactant now controls the surface charge and the hydrophobic-hydrophilic character of the surface.Dedicated to the memory of Dr. Safwan Al-Khouri IbrahimPresented at the Euchem Workshop on Adsorption of Surfactants and Macromolecules from Solution, Åbo (Turku), Finland, June 1989     

Interface stabilization and micelle formation in blends with a block copolymer

The phase separation behavior of ternary blends of two homopolymers, PMMA and PS, and a block copolymer of styrene and methylmethacrylate, P(S-b-MMA), was studied. The homopolymers were of equal chain length and were kept at equal amounts. Two copolymers were used with blocks of equal length, which exceeded or equaled that of the homopolymer chains. Varied was the copolymer contentf. Films were cast from toluene, which is a nonselective solvent. The morphologies of the cast films were compared with the structure of the critical fluctuations in solution, which were calculated in mean field approximation. The axis of blend compositionsf can be divided into parts of dominating macrophase and microphase separation. Above a transition concentrationf _o, all copolymer chains are found in phase interfaces. Belowf _o, part of them form micelles within the homopolymer phases.     

Participation of electrolyte cations in albumin adsorption onto negatively charged polymer latices

The participation of electrolyte cations in the adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) onto polymer latices was investigated. The latices used were hydrophobic polystyrene (PS), and hydrophilic copolymers, i.e., styrene (St)/2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate(HEMA) copolymer [P(St/HEMA)] and styrene/acrylamide (AAm) copolymer [P(St/AAm)]. Three kinds of electrolyte cations (Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺) were used as the chloride. The amount of BSA adsorbed in every cation medium showed a maximum near the isoelectric point (iep, pH about 5) of the protein. The amounts of BSA adsorbed onto copolymer latices (except in the acidic pH region lower than the iep) were considerably smaller than that onto PS latex because of the steric repulsion and the decrease in the hydrophobic interaction between BSA and copolymer latices. In the acidic pH region, there was little difference in the amount of BSA adsorbed in every cation medium. However, in the pH region higher than the iep, the amounts of BSA adsorbed (particularly onto PS latex) in divalent cations (Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺) media were relatively greater compared with that in a monovalent (Na⁺) one. This result was interpreted on the basis of the differences in such effects of electrolyte cations as dehydration power, suppression of the electrostatic repulsion, and binding affinity to BSA molecule. Ion Chromatographic estimation of the amounts of electrolyte cations captured upon BSA adsorption (in pH > 5) revealed that divalent cations were incorporated into the contact interface between the latex and BSA molecule so as to prevent the accumulation of anion charge and facilitate the protein adsorption.     

Donator acceptor behavior of aerosil in several organic liquids

Aerosil is studied with regards to its acceptor behavior by means of electrokinetic measurements and UV measurements in various organic liquids. Whereas the values of the general negativ zeta-potential only approximately correspond with the donor number of the liquids determined according to Gutmann, Marie and Gal, and Kravtzov et al., an excellent agreement between zeta-potential and the UV maximum of a dicyano-bis(1,10-phenanthrolin)-ferric [Fe(phen)₂(CN)₂] complex adsorbed at the solid-liquid interface was found. The fact that traces of water decrease the negative zeta-potential of aearosil in organic liquids is attributed to hydration of the aerosil surface.Dedicated to Professor Dr. Josef Schurz on the occasion of his 65th birthday.     

Lipolysis of didecanoyl-lecithin/triolein mixed monolayers by phospholipaseA 2

A study of enzyme lipolysis by pancreatic phospholipaseA ₂ and by vipera berus phospholipaseA ₂ on monomolecular mixed films of didecanoyl-lecithin and triolein on an aqueous subphase of pH 8 has been carried out. The influence of the composition of the mixed film, the surface pressure of the film and the amount and type of the injected enzyme on the lipolysis rate were studied.In order to relate the lipolytic activity with the monolayer state, the compression isotherms of the didecanoyl-lecithin/triolein mixed monolayers have also been obtained.The resuls are compared to observations on lipolytic activity of phospholipaseA ₂ on the didecanoyl-lecithin/cholesterol mixed monolayers. Triolein improves the kinetic conditions of the lipolysis of lecithin films in a higher degree than cholesterol. Probably it increases the enzyme penetration by the fluidifying effect exerted on the lecithin monolayers.     

Swelling of poly(methacrylic acid) gels and adsorption of L-lysine and its polymer on the gels

Poly (methacrylic acid) gels (PMAA gels) of various degrees of crosslinking were prepared and the dissociation behavior of these gels was examined; the swelling behavior was investigated as a function of the solution pH values. A reentrant phenomenon of swelling was observed and interpreted based on the Flory-Huggins equation and the Donnan equilibrium formula. Moreover, adsorption of L-lysine, oligo(L-lysine)s (Lys-n,n=3, 9, and 19) and poly(L-lysine) onto PMAA gels from aqueous solutions was investigated under different conditions of pH and concentration of adsorbate. The adsorption ratio of L-lysine onto PMAA gel is dependent on both the pH of solution and the degree of crosslinking. In a pH range between 8 and 9, the protonated form of L-lysine is strongly adsorbed on the PMAA gel by electrostatic interactions. Oligomers and polymer of L-lysine are adsorbed in a somewhat different way from the monomeric L-lysine. In addition, the desorption behavior of L-lysine from PMAA gels by a change in pH was also investigated.     

Synthesis and Polymerization Kinetics of Polystyrene Grafting using Azo-groups Bounded SiO2 as an Initiator

This work presents a new method for synthesis of inorganic/organic hybrid nanoparticles via the in-situ polymerization by the use of the azo-groups bounded silica nanoparticles as a radical initiator and styrene as a model vinyl-monomer. The synthesis and the structure of silica/polystyrene (SiO₂/PS), and the polymerization kinetics of the styrene initiated by the azo-groups bounded SiO₂ nanoparticles are studied with techniques such as FTIR, XPS, DSC, GPC, and TEM. Results show that the SiO₂-g-PS nanoparticles are synthesized successfully, and the resulting hybrid nanoparticles have a core-shell structure with SiO₂ in the core and the polystyrene on the outside layer. The percentage of the grafted PS on the SiO₂ surface increases with the progress of the polymerization before 6 h, and the largest amount of the grafted PS reaches 33% of the silica nanoparticles.

Consequently, the size of the nanoparticles increases ca. 20 nm upon the polystyrene grafting. The molecular weight of the grafted PS increases with the polymerization, and it has reached a much large value in the first several polymerization hours while it keeps a constant value approximately in the following polymerization process. Meanwhile, the polydispersity index of the grafted PS gradually increases with the progress of the polymerization. These phenomena agree with the theory of the traditional free radical polymerization very well.     

The pH dependence of dispersion of TiO2 particles in aqueous surfactant solutions

The pH dependence of dispersion of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) particles has been examined in the presence of surfactant molecules in water. Whereas particles were dispersed in water at acid and alkaline regions rather than at neutral region, the dispersion was enhanced at neutral region in an aqueous sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) solution and at acid and alkaline regions in an aqueous dodecyldimethylamine oxide (C₁₂DAO) solution. Considering the pH dependence of zeta potential, the adsorption models of surfactant molecules on a particle were estimated on the basis of the modes of hemimicelle and double-layer compression. While the particles that adsorbed Al³⁺ were remarkably dispersed around pH 6, their dispersion does not largely depend on pH in the addition of SDS, indicating the adsorption of SDS molecules to form double-layer compression in the whole pH region. Dynamic light-scattering measurement and electron microscopic observation suggested that the particles were dispersed in water as small flocs.     

Spectral studies on the structure and monovalent cation binding to poly(1,3-propylene phosphate) — a synthetic analogue of natural teichoic acids

A poly(1,3-propylene phosphate), (PPP), which can be considered as a synthetic analogue of naturally occurring teichoic acids, has been studied with infrared spectroscopy. Infrared spectra of PPP in acidic and alkali metal forms have been analyzed in detail and the conclusions concerning intermolecular interactions between phosphate diester groups and the monovalent cation binding to PPP of a different degree of polymerization (n) have been drawn out. It has been shown that in anhydrous PPP, acidic groups are extensively hydrogen bonded. The process of association of phosphate diester groups is rather complex, especially in the samples of lowern. The role of H-bonds in some solution properties of high-molecular PPP samples has been discussed.     

Deposition of polymer latices on grafted Nylon 6 fiber

Deposition of polymer latices on a grafted Nylon 6 fiber was studied as a function of pH and the degree of grafting. The latices were polystyrene (PS), styrene/acrylamide copolymer (P(St/AAm)) and styrene/acrylic acid copolymer (P(St/AA)). The deposition of the latices on the grafted fiber decreased in every case with increasing pH and no deposition was observed at alkaline pH. The grafting of fiber with acrylic and methacrylic acid reduced the deposition of P(St/AAm) and P(St/AA) latices but had no influence on the deposition of PS latex. The relation between the deposition rates and the interaction energy at acidic pH indicates that the deposition of PS latex on the grafted fiber mainly depends on the electrostatic interaction. These results suggest that the expansion of water-soluble polyelectrolyte layer on the surface of grafted fiber plays an important role on the deposition.     

Polystyrene(1)/poly(butyl acrylate-methacrylic acid)(2) core-shell emulsion polymers. Part I. Synthesis and colloidal characterization

Polystyrene (PS) (1)/Poly(n-butyl acrylate (BA)-methacrylic acid (MAA)) (2) structured particle latexes were prepared by emulsion polymerization using monodisperse polystyrene latex seed (118 nm) and different BA/MAA ratios. Three main aspects have been investigated: i) the polymerization kinetics; ii) the particle morphology as a function of reaction time; iii) the distribution of MAA units between the water phase and the polymer particles.The amount of MAA in the shell copolymer was found to be the main factor controlling the particle shape and morphology. The shape of the structured particles was, generally, non-spherical, and the shape irregularities increased as a particles was, generally, non-spherical, and the shape irregularities increased as a function of reaction time. At the beginning of the second stage reaction, new small particles were observed, which coalesced onto the PS seed as the polymerization proceeded. The distribution of the MAA groups in the latex particles and the serum was analyzed by alkali/back-acid titration, using ionic exchanged latexes. No MAA groups were detected in the latex serum. Due to the lowTg of the BA-MAA copolymers, alkali conductimetric titrations accounted for all the MAA groups on and within the polymer particles. Therefore, for these systems, this method is not only limited to a thin surface layer, as it is often assumed.     

Optical rotatory dispersion (ORD) of glycogen

The ORD spectra of three types of glycogen in salt solutions at different concentrations, pH and ionic strength values were determined to investigate the influence of these variables on the rotatory power.The ORD curves obtained with the samples recently prepared correspond to positive monotone dispersion curves, similar to available data for the other polysaccharides.Once the mutarotation equilibrium is attained a maximum is observed at 210±10 nm. The rotatory power decreases with the elapsed time and in some cases, it is possible to find a change in the sign of these curves. Such a phenomenon may be attributed to conformational changes in the monomer units constituting the macromolecule.A considerable increase in the rotatory power is found at pH extreme values.The dispersion constant, _c , was calculated by means of a modified Drude equation and results indicate that the _c value is higher for muscle glycogen in the mussel species, suggesting a higher degree of asymmetry in this macromolecule.     

Light scattering study of solution properties of bovine serum albumin,insulin, and polystyrene under moderate pressure

Brillouin scattering experiments have been performed on very dilute solutions of bovine serum albumin (BSA) in pH=4.7,I=0.1 M NaCl; insulin in pH=7.5,I = 0.1 M NaCl and polystyrene latex suspensions in aqueous medium at room temperatureT = 20₁ °C. The samples were first characterized by quasi-elastic light scattering (QELS) to determine the translational diffusion coefficient (D _T), hydrodynamic radius (R _H), and polydispersity of each of the samples at normal pressure. Subsequently, the samples were subjected to Brillouin scattering studies where the spectrum of the scattered light was analyzed by using a piezo-electric scannend five-pass Fabry-Perot interferometer. The hydrostatic pressure (P) acting on the samples was varied in the range from 1B to 825 B in steps of 100 B each. The pressure dependence of the measured sound velocityV _s (P) could be least square fitted tov _s (P)=A₀ +A ₁ P +A ₂ P ² with experimental error (± 1 %). This data has been interpreted consistent with an earlier work within the framework of modified Tait's equation of state and presumption of linear pressure dependence of the adiabatic bulk modulus in the moderate pressure regime.     

An evaluation method for SAXS-patterns of fibrillar two-phase systems containing oriented particles of moderate anisotropy and short range correlation

Starting from the theoretical background of Rulands interface distributions, an evaluation method for small angle x-ray patterns arising from oriented fibrillar two-phase structures is proposed. If the fibril contains highly oriented particles with only moderate anisotropy and if the correlations between those particles within the fibril are of short range only, every axial section of the scattering pattern shows a one dimensional Porod law. A procedure of successive model confinement using the well known tools of nonlinear regression analysis is described. The result of such an analysis for the scattering pattern of an oil diluted SBS block copolymer recorded with synchrotron radiation under first-cycle stretching is reported. At=4 nm four contributions to the scattering pattern could be identified: a) fibrils containing well-defined cylinders standing upright; b) fibrils containing lying cylinders under destruction; c) stretched-out polybutadiene chains, connecting two polystyrene cylinders and causing the observable layer line pattern; and d) stretched-out polybutadiene chains looping through the neighboring PS domain and returning to their starting domain. In addition, a simple method for determining the height-to-diameter ratio of cylinders from the form factor envelope is proposed.     

Investigations of a series of nonionic surfactants of sugar-lipid hybrids by light scattering and electron microscopy

Sugar-lipid hybrids of the type C_nC_m were prepared by coupling an alkane chain (C_n) with a maltooligosaccharide (G_m) over an amide linkage. Coupling was performed with maltobionolactone (G₂) and n-alkylamine chains C_n withn=8,10,12,14,16, i.e. variation of the hydrophobic part of the molecule, and with hexadecylamine (C₁₆) and different maltooligosaccharides (G_m, m=2,3,4,6). The solution properties of the various products were studied by means of static and dynamic light scattering (LS) and by electron-microscopy (EM).The results may be summarized as follows: If the alkane chain is shorter thann=14, small spherical micelles with a radius of about 3 nm are observed. In time these micelles aggregate further to form increasingly larger spherical clusters which eventually precipitate. Long rod-like micelles form whenn 14. Contour length and chain stiffness were determined by applying theories of semiflexible chains. A qualitative confirmation of the light scattering results, i.e., micelle size and shape, was obtained from electron microscopy.     

Pecularities of the thermomechanical behaviour of ultra-high molecular weight linear polyethylene and its blends with linear polyethylene of normal molecular weight

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene UHMWPE (M _w=4 · 10⁶,I _s=O g/ 10 min), high density polyethylene of normal molecular weight NMWPE (I _s= 4.8 g/10 min) and their blends have been investigated by means of thermomechanical loading in constant and impulse regime. It has been established that after melting, NMWPE passes to a viscous-liquid state. After melting at 138 °C UHMWPE passes to a high-elastic state. The transition of UHMWPE to a viscous-liquid state takes place at temperatures higher than 180 °C and is accompanied by a high-elastic reversible deformation. The blends of UHMWPE with 10 and 20 mass % of NMWPE show a plateau on the thermomechanical curves, corresponding to a high-elastic state, in a shorter temperature range where the deformation is greater. The blends containing the higher percent of NMWPE show thermomechanical curves lacking such a plateau. All blends are characterized by a singular thermomechanically defined temperature of melting, which increases with increase of UHMWPE content. The existence of the high-elastic state in the curves of UHMWPE and its blends containing NMWPE less than 30 mass % above their melting temperatures is explained by the high degree of physical crosslinking of UHMWPE.     

Interaction of adenosine with alkyltrimethylammonium bromides

The interaction of adenosine with alkyltrimethylammonium bromides, C_mH_2m+1N(CH₃)₃Br(m=16, 14, 12, 10, 8, and 6), has been studied by 1 H NMR spectroscopy. When surfactants exist as monomer units, the adenine ring of adenosine preferentially associates with the middle portion of the alkyl chain of the surfactants. The interaction is less specific with surfactants of shorter alkyl chains. When surfactants form micelles, no specific interaction between the adenine ring and the alkyl chain of the surfactant can be detected. A coordination of the cationic part of the surfactants with the adenine ring is suggested. The degree of association was evaluated from association constants. Similar results were obtained for purine and alkyltrimethylammonium bromide.     

Monolayers of neutral and charged polyamino-acids spread on silicic acid substrates

Surface pressure-area isotherms (-A) of poly(L-alanine) (PA), poly(L-glutamic acid) (PG), and poly(L-arginine) (PArg) monolayers spread on substrates of varous pH values containing silicic acid were recorded and compared with those obtained on silica-free substrates. The compression curves of PA showed a pH-independent plateau region which was assumed to correspond to a monolayer to bilayer transition. The inflection observed in the -A curves of PG was attributed to the formation of loops made up of the terminal heads of the polymer and lying under the monolayer. Polysilicic acid interacted with the PArg films at pH 6; such films were more rigid and stable and had larger specific areas than those obtained in the absence of silica, which prompts the occurrence of an ionic interaction. The other two polyamino-acids did not interact with silicic acid at any pH value, so we may rule out the formation of hydrogen bonds between the silanol groups of polysilicic acid and the peptide or carboxyl groups of these amino acids.     

The effect of water on the zeta potential of chromium dioxide in tetrahydrofuran

Experiments have been performed to determine the effect of water on dilute suspensions of CrO₂ in tetrahydrofuran (THF). The effect of water in the solvent as well as on the particle surface has been investigated using electrokinetic and dispersion stability measurements. Results of these investigations have shown that the zeta potential of dried CrO₂ (physisorbed water removed) in THF is positive and is dependent on the water content in THF. The zeta potential exhibits a maximum at about 1,800 ppm water. Good correlation also exists between the electrokinetic and dispersion stability measurements.     

Stability of modified surface CaCO3 in the non-polar medium

The adsorption isotherm of methacrylic acid (MAA) and polymethacrylic acid (PMAA) molecules on CaCO₃ were studied. The isotherm of (MAA) adsorption from cyclohexane was found formed from two steps, while that of (PMAA) from ethanol is formed from one step. The effects of surface modification of CaO₃ with (MAA) and (PMAA) in the sedimentation properties in a non-polar medium (cyclohexane) have been studied. It was found that the most stable suspension formed is concerned with monolayer surface coverage for the two adsorptives. Also, studies were made for the rheological properties of concentrated suspension of CaCO₃ modified with (MAA) and (PMAA) in a paraffin oil. The equilibrium flow curves of CaCO₃ modified with (PMAA) suspensions exhibit pseudoplastic characteristics, accompanied by some degree of complex thixotropy, while that modified with (MAA) exerts a thickening effect with rheopexy characteristics.