Water solubilization capacity of mixed reverse micelles: effect of surfactant component, the nature of the oil, and electrolyte concentration

Solubilization of water in mixed reverse micellar systems with anionic surfactant (AOT) and nonionic surfactants (Brijs, Spans, Tweens, Igepal CO 520), cationic surfactant (DDAB)-nonionic surfactants (Brijs, Spans, Igepal CO 520), and nonionic (Igepal CO 520)-nonionics (Brijs, Spans) in oils of different chemical structures and physical properties (isopropyl myristate, isobutyl benzene, cyclohexane) has been studied at 303 K. The enhancement in water solubilization has been evidenced in these systems with some exceptions. The maximum water solubilization capacity (omega(0,max)) in mixed reverse micellar systems occurred at a certain mole fraction of a nonionic surfactant, which is indicated as X(nonionic,max). The addition of electrolyte (NaCl or NaBr) in these systems tends to enhance their solubilization capacities further both at a fixed composition of nonionic (X(nonionic); 0.1) and at X(nonionic,max) at 303 K. The maximum in solubilization capacity of electrolyte (omega(max)) was obtained at an optimal electrolyte concentration (designated as [NaCl](max) or [NaBr](max)). All these parameters, omega(0,max) vis-a-vis X(nonionic,max) and omega(max) vis-a-vis [NaCl](max), have been found to be dependent on the surfactant component (content, EO chains, and configuration of the polar head group, and the hydrocarbon moiety of the nonionic surfactants) and type of oils. The conductance behavior of these systems has also been investigated, focusing on the influences of water content (omega), content of nonionics (X(nonionic)), concentration of electrolyte ([NaCl] or [NaBr]), and oil. Percolation of conductance has been observed in some of these systems and explained by considering the influences of the variables on the rigidity of the oil/water interface and attractive interactions of the surfactant aggregates. Percolation zones have been depicted in the solubilization capacity vs X(nonionic) or [electrolyte] curves in order to correlate with maximum in water or electrolyte solubilization capacity. The overall results, obtained in these studies, have been interpreted in terms of the model proposed by Shah and co-workers for the solubility of water in water-in-oil microemulsions, as their model proposed that the two main effects that determine the solubility of these systems are curvature of the surfactant film separating the oil and water and interactions between water droplets.     

混合表面活性剂在非极性溶剂中的聚集行为

表面活性剂在非极性溶剂中的聚集行为比在水溶液中复杂得多. 水溶液中表面活性剂有一明确的临界胶束浓度(CMC),而在非极性溶剂中至今对CM C概念仍有怀疑^[1], 但已有多种手段如染料增溶法、水增溶法、光散射法、荧光偏振、紫外和核磁共振谱等证实并测定了非极性溶剂中 CMC 的存在^[1～5]. 表面活性剂在非极性溶剂中以非离子化状态存在, 其缔合主要靠两亲分子之间的偶极-偶极以及离子对相互作用, 那么在一种表面活性剂溶液中加入另一种表面活性剂, 即表面活性剂的复配, 必然对其聚集行为产生重大影响, 但迄今为止, 尚未见关于混合表面活性剂在非极性溶剂中聚集行为的报道. 本文采用碘光谱法和水增溶法测定了阴离子表面活性剂AOT 和非离子表面活性剂 Brij30 混合后在正庚烷中形成反胶束的 CMC, 以期考察表面活性剂的复配对其聚集行为的影响。     

Surfactant-enhanced remediation of organic contaminated soil and water

Surfactant based remediation technologies for organic contaminated soil and water (groundwater or surface water) is of increasing importance recently. Surfactants are used to dramatically expedite the process, which in turn, may reduce the treatment time of a site compared to use of water alone. In fact, among the various available remediation technologies for organic contaminated sites, surfactant based process is one of the most innovative technologies. To enhance the application of surfactant based technologies for remediation of organic contaminated sites, it is very important to have a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in this process. This paper will provide an overview of the recent developments in the area of surfactant enhanced soil and groundwater remediation processes, focusing on (i) surfactant adsorption on soil, (ii) micellar solubilization of organic hydrocarbons, (iii) supersolubilization, (iv) density modified displacement, (v) degradation of organic hydrocarbon in presence surfactants, (vi) partitioning of surfactants onto soil and liquid organic phase, (vii) partitioning of contaminants onto soil, and (viii) removal of organics from soil in presence of surfactants. Surfactant adsorption on soil and/or sediment is an important step in this process as it results in surfactant loss reduced the availability of the surfactants for solubilization. At the same time, adsorbed surfactants will retained in the soil matrix, and may create other environmental problem. The biosurfactants are become promising in this application due to their environmentally friendly nature, nontoxic, low adsorption on to soil, and good solubilization efficiency. Effects of different parameters like the effect of electrolyte, pH, soil mineral and organic content, soil composition etc. on surfactant adsorption are discussed here. Micellar solubilization is also an important step for removal of organic contaminants from the soil matrix, especially for low aqueous solubility organic contaminants. Influences of different parameters such as single and mixed surfactant system, hydrophilic and hydrophobic chain length, HLB value, temperature, electrolyte, surfactant type that are very important in micellar solubilization are reviewed here. Microemulsion systems show higher capacity of organic hydrocarbons solubilization than the normal micellar system. In the case of biodegradation of organic hydrocarbons, the rate is very slow due to low water solubility and dissolution rate but the presence of surfactants may increase the bioavailability of hydrophobic compounds by solubilization and hence increases the degradation rate. In some cases the presence of it also reduces the rate. In addition to fundamental studies, some laboratory and field studies on removal of organics from contaminated soil are also reviewed to show the applicability of this technology.     

Micropartioning and solubilization enhancement of 1,2-bis(bis(4-chlorophenyl) methyl)diselane in mixed micelles of binary and ternary cationic-nonionic surfactant mixtures

The aqueous solubilization of the organoselenium compound viz., 1,2-bis(bis(4-chlorophenyl)methyl)diselane [(ClC(6)H(4))(2)CHSe](2) has been investigated experimentally in micellar solutions of two cationic (hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide, CTAB, hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride, CTAC) and one nonionic (polyoxyethylene(20)mono-n-hexadecyl ether, Brij 58) surfactants possessing the same hydrocarbon "tail" length and in their single as well as equimolar binary and ternary mixed states. Solubilization capacity determined with spectrophotometry and tensiometry has been quantified in terms of molar solubilization ratio and micelle-water partition coefficient. FTIR, UV-vis, fluorescence and zeta potential measurements have been utilized to ascertain the interaction of organochalcogen compound with surfactants. Equimolar cationic-nonionic surfactant combinations show better solubilization capacity than pure cationics or nonionics, whereas equimolar cationic-cationic-nonionic ternary surfactant systems exhibit intermediate solubilization efficiency between their single and binary counterparts. Locus of solubilization of [(ClC(6)H(4))(2)CHSe](2) in different micellar solutions was probed by UV-visible spectroscopy. The investigation has presented precious information for the preference of mixed surfactants for solubilizing water-insoluble compounds. Indeed the solubilization aptitude of these surfactants is not merely related to molar capacity. The results furnish adequate support to justify comprehensive exploration of the surfactant properties that influence solubilization.     

Lysozyme in catanionic surfactant mixtures

We investigate the competition between the associations of oppositely charged protein-surfactant complexes and oppositely charged surfactant complexes. In all systems examined, the most favorable complexation is the one between the two oppositely charged surfactant ions, despite the strong binding known, for example, dodecyl sulfate, DS-, to lysozyme. Thus, the phase behavior of the catanionic system is dominating the features observed also in the presence of protein. The phase behavior of the dilute protein-free dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride-sodium dodecyl sulfate-water system is presented and used as a basis for the discussion on the different solubilization mechanisms. Our results show that the mechanism for resolubilization of a protein-surfactant salt is fundamentally different when it is caused by addition of a second surfactant than when it is accomplished by an excess of the first surfactant. The competition between lysozyme and cationic amphiphiles as hosts for the anionic surfactants was studied experimentally and analyzed quantitatively. Aggregates with C12 cationic surfactants are clearly preferred by the anionic surfactants, while for C10 and particularly C8 a clear excess of cationic surfactant has to be added to completely dissolve the complex salt lysozyme-anionic surfactant.     

Micellar solubilization thermodynamics of acetophenone in surfactant mixtures: Case of benzyldimethyltetradecylammonium chloride and trimethyltetradecylammonium chloride

The thermodynamics of micellar solubilization of acetophenone in mixtures of two cationic surfactants [benzyldimethyltetradecylammonium chloride +trimethyltetradecylammonium chloride] has been derived from calorimetric measurements at controlled solute activity. The partition coefficient between micelles and water as well as the standard enthalpy and entropy of transfer between micelles and water were calculated. The results were compared to the case of benzylalcohol in the same cationic mixtures. For acetophenone, the variation of all thermodynamic transfer functions with micellar composition may be described by the regular solution formalism. The same conclusion has been achieved for most polar solutes in various surfactant mixtures: favorable interaction between unlike surfactants induces an unfavorable micellar solubilization. Exceptions should be found with the cases where solute solubilization induces profound micellar changes. It seems to be the case with some alcohols in the cationic surfactant mixtures studied.     

Solubilization by different-sized surfactant mixtures

The solubilization phenomenon was investigated in mixed surfactant systems. The solubilization power of a mixed surfactant reaches its maximum at a particular temperature at each mixing ratio of surfactants. When the mole fraction of C4E1 in the total surfactant (w1 value) was varied in a water/C12E5/C4E1/decane system, the minimum mole fraction of total surfactant in the system necessary to obtain a single microemulsion phase (xi value) was almost unchanged for w1<0.3, whereas it increased remarkably for w1>0.8. The molar solubilization capacity (Cs=(1-xi)/xi) of the mixed surfactant decreased remarkably for w1<0.3, whereas it decreased gradually for w1>0.8. The result [Formula: see text] is due largely to the characteristic of the function xi(Cs)=1/(1+Cs), specifically, [Formula: see text] , where dxi/dw1=(dxi/dCs)(dCs/dw1). The partial molar solubilization capacity (Cs) of C4E1 was negative at almost all w1, but the Cs value of C12E5 went through a maximum on the addition of C4E1. Propanol (a cosurfactant) has the same effect on the solubilization phenomenon in the water/C12E6/propanol/heptane system. In the water/C12E5/C12E7/decane system, the Cs value of each surfactant did not vary greatly as the mixing ratio of surfactants was varied. The Cs and xi values were close to molar additivity for each mixing ratio.     

Enzyme‐Compatible Dynamic Nanoreactors from Electrostatically Bridged Like‐Charged Surfactants and Polyelectrolytes

Reported is an unanticipated mechanism of attractive electrostatic interactions of fully neutralized polyacrylic acid (PAA) with like‐charged surfactants. Amphiphilic polymer‐surfactant complexes with high interfacial activity and a solubilization capacity exceeding that of conventional micelles are formed by bridging with Ca²⁺ ions. Incorporation of a protease into such dynamic nanoreactors results in a synergistically enhanced cleaning performance because of the improved solubilization of poorly water‐soluble immobilized proteins. Competitive interfacial and intermolecular interactions on different time‐ and length‐scales have been resolved using colorimetric analysis, dynamic tensiometry, light scattering, and molecular dynamic simulations. The discovered bridging association mechanism suggests reengineering of surfactant/polymer/enzyme formulations of modern detergents and opens new opportunities in advancing labile delivery systems.     

Photophysical Behavior of a New Gemini Surfactant in Neat Solvents and in Micellar Environments

A novel fluorescent gemini surfactant, 1,4-bis-(2'-(N-dodecyl pyridinio-4"-yl)ethenyl)benzene dibromide, abbreviated BDPEBB, has been synthesized and its photophysical properties have been studied in different environments. BDPEBB has a limited solubility in alcohols where it is found in aggregate form at concentrations>/=1 mM. In other solvents, e.g., water, it is only found in aggregate form, even at much lower concentrations. Solvent polarity has a small and insignificant solvatochromic effect but alcohols give a specific interaction with BDPEBB, causing a significant hypsochromic shift in absorption maxima and a large increase in relative fluorescence efficiency. Pyrene fluorescence is effectively quenched by BDPEBB. Pyrene also forms associative complexes with BDPEBB in water. These complexes are partly dissociated in the presence of surfactant micelles. Triton X-100 micelles provide a favorable environment for BDPEBB solubilization well distinguished from the behavior of ionic surfactants. Small quantities of BDPEBB have a large influence on the behavior of aqueous sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) and sodium decylsulfate (SDeS) micelles, inducing the formation of large aggregates, visible by the naked eye. These large aggregates are most probably microcrystals of BDPEBB(2+)/2DS(-) or BDPEBB(2+)/2DeS(-). The aggregation number of SDS and SDeS micelles in the absence and in the presence of BDPEBB has been calculated by exploitation of the static luminescence quenching kinetics of Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) by 9-methylanthracene, both solubilized in the micellar phase. It has been observed that Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) inhibits the precipitation of SDeS micelles in the presence of BDPEBB. Our results suggest that double-chain surfactant chromophores should be employed with particular care if they are to be used as probes of the micellar phase. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Aqueous block copolymer-surfactant mixtures and their ability in solubilizing chlorinated organic compounds. A thermodynamic and SANS study

Within the topic of surfactant enhanced solubilization of additives sparingly soluble in water, volumetric, solubility, conductivity, and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) experiments on mixtures composed of alpha,omega-dichloroalkane, surfactant, copolymer, and water were carried out at 298 K. The triblock copolymers (ethylene oxide)132(propylene oxide)50(ethylene oxide)132 (F108) and (ethylene oxide)76(propylene oxide)29(ethylene oxide)76 (F68) were chosen to investigate the role of the molecular weight keeping constant the hydrophilic/hydrophobic ratio. The selected surfactants are sodium decanoate (NaDec) and decyltrimethylammonium bromide (DeTAB) with comparable hydrophobicity and different charged heads. The alpha,omega-dichloroalkanes were chosen as contaminant prototypes. For the water + surfactant + copolymer mixtures, both the volume and the SANS results straightforwardly evidenced that (1) monomers of NaDec and copolymer unimers generate small mixed aggregates, (2) monomers of DeTAB combined with copolymer unimers do not form aggregates, and (3) unimeric copolymer is solubilized into NaDec and DeTAB micelles. The alpha,omeaga-dichloroalkanes presence induces the F108 aggregation even at very low copolymer composition. The addition of surfactant disintegrates the F108 aggregates and, consequently, the additive is expelled into the aqueous phase. Once F108 is in the unimeric state, it forms copolymer-micelle aggregates which incorporate the oil. In the case of F68 both the volumetric and the SANS data reveal that the additive does not alter the copolymer unimeric state. Moreover, they show that for the aqueous DeTAB-F68 system the additive trapping in both the copolymer-micelle aggregate and the pure micelles takes place being enhanced in the former aggregate in agreement with solubility experiments. For the NaDec-F68 mixtures, an additional solubilization process in the premicellar copolymer-surfactant microstructures occurs. SANS and conductivity data show that the additive incorporation into the mixed and the pure micelles does not essentially influence the structural properties of the aggregates.     

Experimental study on methane solubilization by organic surfactant aggregates

Seeking to enhance coal mine safety, an experimental study of a kind of water-based explosion suppression medium for the absorption of mine gas was carried out. Using methane as the model gas, solubilizing experiments with different concentrations of anionic and nonionic surfactants were carried out using headspace gas chromatography for surfactants consisting of sodium fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether carboxylate (AEC), fatty acid methyl ester sulfonate (MES), fatty methyl ester ethoxylate (FMEE), hexyl d-glucoside (APG06), octyl beta-d-glucopyranoside (APG08) and n-decyl glucoside (APG10). By selecting individual surfactants, the study investigated the methane solubilization performance of water mist with binary anionic–nonionic surfactants. Furthermore, the release of methane in solution was also examined. The results show that the apparent solubility of methane in solution is linearly and positively correlated with the surfactant concentration. The methane solubilization is significantly improved by the addition of anionic–nonionic surfactants. The optimal solubilizing ratio of the anionic–nonionic surfactant varies with the solution compositions. For a fixed ratio, surfactant compositions exhibit the most distinct synergistic effect and the best performance for methane solubilization. The release of methane from mixed micelles composed of the compound solution is superior to that of a single surfactant. Through the analysis of the solubilization effect and the stability of different absorbents, it is concluded that the anionic–nonionic surfactant system shows much better capability than the other selected surfactants.     

Mixed micelle formation and solubilization behavior toward polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons of binary and ternary cationic-nonionic surfactant mixtures

Water solubility enhancements of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), viz., naphthalene, anthracene and pyrene, by micellar solutions at 25 degrees C using two series of surfactants, each involving two cationic and one nonionic surfactant in their single as well as equimolar binary and ternary mixed states, were measured and compared. The first series was composed of three surfactants, benzylhexadecyldimethylammonium chloride (C16BzCl), hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (C16Br), and polyoxyethylene(20)mono-n-hexadecyl ether (Brij-58) with a 16-carbon (C16) hydrophobic chain; the second series consisted of dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (C12Br), dodecylethyldimethylammonium bromide (C12EBr), and polyoxyethylene(4)mono-n-dodecyl ether (Brij-30) with a 12-carbon (C12) chain. Solubilization capacity has been quantified in terms of the molar solubilization ratio, the micelle-water partition coefficient, the first stepwise association constant between solubilizate monomer and vacant micelle, and the average number of solubilizate molecules per micelle, determined employing spectrophoto-, tensio-, and flourimetric techniques. Cationic surfactants exhibited lesser solubilization capacity than nonionics in each series of surfactants with higher efficiency in the C16 series compared to the C12 series. Increase in hydrophobicity of head groups of cationics by incorporation of ethyl or benzyl groups enhanced their solubilization capacity. The mixing effect of surfactants on mixed micelle formation and solubilization efficiency has been discussed in light of the regular solution approximation (RSA). Cationic-nonionic binary combinations showed better solubilization capacity than pure cationics, nonionics, or cationic-cationic mixtures, which, in general, showed increase with increased hydrophobicity of PAHs. Equimolar cationic-cationic-nonionic ternary surfactant systems showed lower solubilization efficiency than their binary cationic-nonionic counterparts but higher than cationic-cationic ones. In addition, use of RSA has been extended, with fair success, to predict partition coefficients of ternary surfactant systems using data of binary surfactants systems. Mixed surfactants may improve the performance of surfactant-enhanced remediation of soils and sediments by decreasing the applied surfactant level and thus remediation cost.     

Enthalpy of formation of crystalline surfactant molecular complexes

The standard enthalpy of formation of novel chemical species — crystalline cationic surfactant molecular complexes — was studied to elucidate the bonding nature, serially scanning over the different surfactant chain-length homologs and various additive species. The enthalpy was not large, but was obviously dependent on the surfactant chain length and the chemical nature of the additive species. The typical complexes comprising long alkyl chain surfactants were formed endothermally, while in short alkyl chain homologs the process was exothermic. By examining the thermal aspect, it was suggested that the typical complexes of long alkyl-chain surfactants were derived not from attractive energetic force factors, but rather from entropic factors associated with the occurrence of severe disorder caused by heavy thermal agitation in the complex crystalline state.     

Surfactant media for constant-current coulometry. Application for the determination of antioxidants in pharmaceuticals

Effect of surfactant presence on electrochemical generation of titrants has been evaluated and discussed for the first time. Cationic (1-dodecylpyridinium and cetylpyridinium bromide), anionic (sodium dodecyl sulfate) and nonionic (Triton X100 and Brij^® 35) surfactants as well as nonionic high molecular weight polymer (PEG 4000) do not react with the electrogenerated bromine, iodine and hexacyanoferrate(III) ions. The electrogenerated chlorine chemically interact with Triton X100 and Brij^® 35. The allowable range of surfactants concentrations providing 100% current yield has been found. Chain-breaking low molecular weight antioxidants (ascorbic acid, rutin, α-tocopherol and retinol) were determined by reaction with the electrogenerated titrants in surfactant media. Nonionic and cationic surfactants can be used for the determination of antioxidants by reaction with the electrogenerated halogens. On contrary, cationic surfactants gives significantly overstated results of antioxidants determination with electrogenerated hexacyanoferrate(III) ions. The use of surfactants in coulometry of α-tocopherol and retinol provides their solubilization and allows to perform titration in water media. Simple, express and reliable coulometric approach for determination of α-tocopherol, rutin and ascorbic acid in pharmaceuticals using surfactant media has been developed. The relative standard deviation of the measurements does not exceed of 5%.     

Dynamics of protein and mixed protein/surfactant adsorption layers at the water/fluid interface

The adsorption behaviour of proteins and systems mixed with surfactants of different nature is described. In the absence of surfactants the proteins mainly adsorb in a diffusion controlled manner. Due to lack of quantitative models the experimental results are discussed partly qualitatively. There are different types of interaction between proteins and surfactant molecules. These interactions lead to protein/surfactant complexes the surface activity and conformation of which are different from those of the pure protein. Complexes formed with ionic surfactants via electrostatic interaction have usually a higher surface activity, which becomes evident from the more than additive surface pressure increase. The presence of only small amounts of ionic surfactants can significantly modify the structure of adsorbed proteins. With increasing amounts of ionic surfactants, however, an opposite effect is reached as due to hydrophobic interaction and the complexes become less surface active and can be displaced from the interface due to competitive adsorption. In the presence of non-ionic surfactants the adsorption layer is mainly formed by competitive adsorption between the compounds and the only interaction is of hydrophobic nature. Such complexes are typically less surface active than the pure protein. From a certain surfactant concentration of the interface is covered almost exclusively by the non-ionic surfactant. Mixed layers of proteins and lipids formed by penetration at the water/air or by competitive adsorption at the water/chloroform interface are formed such that at a certain pressure the components start to separate. Using Brewster angle microscopy in penetration experiments of proteins into lipid monolayers this interfacial separation can be visualised. A brief comparison of the protein adsorption at the water/air and water/n-tetradecane shows that the adsorbed amount at the water/oil interface is much stronger and the change in interfacial tension much larger than at the water/air interface. Also some experimental data on the dilational elasticity of proteins at both interfaces measured by a transient relaxation technique are discussed on the basis of the derived thermodynamic model. As a fast developing field of application the use of surface tensiometry and rheometry of mixed protein/surfactant mixed layers is demonstrated as a new tool in the diagnostics of various diseases and for monitoring the progress of therapies.     

Co-solubilization of the Hydrophobic Drugs Carbamazepine and Nifedipine in Aqueous Nonionic Surfactant Media

Co-solubilization of the hydrophobic drugs Carbamezipine (CBZ) and Nifedipine (NFD) by micellar solutions at 25 °C, using two series of polyoxyethylene based nonionic surfactants, was measured and compared. The first series is composed of surfactants with a 12 carbon (C₁₂) hydrophobic chain while the second series had 16 carbon (C₁₆) hydrophobic chains. Experimental results were obtained for solubilization and co-solubilization of CBZ and NFD within the micelles at saturation and quantification was done in terms of the molar solubilization ratio and the micelle–water partition coefficient employing spectrophotometric and tensiometric techniques. The extent of micellar solubilization of CBZ is much greater than NFD. The C₁₂ series of surfactants exhibit higher solubilization capacities for CBZ than the C₁₆ series while the reverse is the case for NFD. Co-solubilization results showed competitive solubilization of the drugs. A synergistic effect on the solubilization of NFD was observed in the presence of CBZ in Brij30 and Brij56 surfactant systems while, in the remaining surfactants, the solubility of NFD was slightly reduced. Since the surfactants used in the present study are either nontoxic or have minimal toxicity, it is expected that they can be employed as drug delivery vehicles for co-administration of the two drugs in vivo. Both from industrial and research points of view, this paper reports a comprehensive study for co-solubilization of differently structured drugs in micellar media.     

Solubilization Enhancing Effect of A-B-Type Silicone Surfactants in Microemulsions

We report a solubilization enhancing effect of A-B-type silicone surfactants in microemulsions. The effect of added long-chain silicone surfactants, Si₂₅C₃EO_51.6 (extended length≈21.8 nm) and Si₁₄C₃EO_15.8 (extended length≈8.5 nm) on the solubilization capacity of C₁₂EO₅ (extended length≈3 nm)/water/dodecane microemulsion was investigated at the hydrophile-lipophile balance temperature at which a microemulsion (surfactant) phase containing equal weights of oil and water touches the three-phase body. The addition of silicone surfactants exhibits an enormous increase of the swelling of the middle phase primarily with an associated increase in the structural length scale of the microemulsion. The solubilization power increases with increasing x₂ (mole fraction of silicone surfactants to the total surfactant) and going through a maximum it decreases, since a lamellar liquid crystal introduces in the multiphase region at low surfactant concentrations. The solubilization capacity reaches at the maximum to an almost equal level for different x₂ values, 0.02 for Si₂₅C₃EO_51.6 and 0.09 for Si₁₄C₃EO_15.8. The solubilization power of the lamellar phase shows a similar trend with lower magnitude.     

Linker molecules in surfactant mixtures

Linker molecules are amphiphiles that segregate near the microemulsion membrane either near the surfactant tail (lipophilic linkers) or the surfactant head group (hydrophilic linkers). The idea of the lipophilic linkers was introduced a decade ago as a way to increase the surfactant–oil interaction and the oil solubilization capacity. Long chain (>9 tail carbons) alcohols were first used as lipophilic linkers. Later it was found that the solubilization enhancement plateaus (saturates) above a certain lipophilic linker concentration. Hydrophilic linkers have been recently introduced as a way to compensate for the saturation effect observed for lipophilic linkers. Hydrophilic linkers are surfactant-like molecules with 6–9 tail carbons that coadsorb with the surfactant at the oil/water interface, thereby increasing the surfactant–water interaction, but have a poor interaction with the oil phase due to their short tail. A special synergism emerges when combining hydrophilic and lipophilic linkers, which further increases the solubilization enhancement over lipophilic linkers alone. We will discuss the profound impact of linker molecules on interfacial properties such as characteristic length, interfacial rigidity and dynamics (coalescence, solubilization and relaxation experiments) of the interface. We also demonstrate how these properties affect the performance of cleaning formulations designed around linker molecules. We describe linker-based formulations for a wide range of oils, including highly hydrophobic oils (e.g. hexadecane) that have proven very hard to clean. We also report on the use of ‘extended’ surfactants as an alternative to self-assembled linker systems.     

Organization of amphiphiles: XII. Evidence in favor of formation of hydrophobic complexes in aqueous solution

The effects of nonionic surfactants OP-10 and OP-30 (polyoxyethylated octyl phenols with 10 and 30 oxyethylene groups, respectively) in surfactant mixtures with ionic surfactants hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) have been investigated by a conductometric method in conjunction with fluorescence, surface tension, zeta potential, and DLS measurements. The interactions are found to be antagonistic in nature for each of the systems; i.e., micellization of CTAB as well as SDS is hindered on addition of the nonionic surfactants. The antagonism is found to be more prominent in the presence of OP-10 compared to that of OP-30. Two types of mechanistic paths, path A operating below the critical micellar concentration and path B operating beyond the critical micellar concentration of nonionic surfactants, have been suggested. In path A, the retardation in micellization has been attributed to a decrease in monomeric concentration of the ionic surfactants from solution as a result of the formation of a hydrophobic complex between nonionic and ionic surfactants. In path B, the decrease in monomer concentration is due to the solubilization of the ionic surfactant in micelles of the nonionic surfactants in a 1:1 stoichiometric ratio. A theoretical treatment to the interaction in each ionic-nonionic pair yields a positive value of the interaction parameter supporting the concept of antagonism. The formation of the hydrophobic complex is supported by fluorescence and surface tension measurements. A schematic representation of the stabilization of these hydrophobic complexes has been suggested. The association of ionic surfactants by nonionic micelles is suggested by zeta potential and DLS studies.     

正负离子表面活性剂反胶团与反相微乳研究

研究了以癸烷为油相的十一烯酸癸胺正负离子表面活性剂体系对水的加溶作用。结果表明此体系在一定组成范围内可以形成均匀透明的反胶团或反相微乳液。升高温度和添加酸、碱、盐可以使形成反胶团或反相微乳的组成范围扩大。在正负离子表面活性剂中加入离子型表面活性剂、特别是负离子型表面活性剂,也有类似的作用。