Interfacial composition, thermodynamic properties, and structural parameters of water-in-oil microemulsions stabilized by 1-pentanol and mixed surfactants

The present study is focused on the evaluation of the interfacial composition, thermodynamic properties, and structural parameters of water-in-oil mixed surfactant microemulsions [(cetylpyridinium chloride, CPC+polyoxyethylene (20) cetyl ether, Brij-58 or polyoxyethylene (20) stearyl ether, Brij-78)/1-pentanol/n-heptane, or n-decane] under various physicochemical environments by the Schulman method of cosurfactant titration of the oil/water interface. The estimation of the number of moles of 1-pentanol at the interface (n(a)(i)) and bulk oil (n(a)(o)) and its distribution between these two domains at the threshold level of stability have been emphasized. The thermodynamics of transfer of 1-pentanol from the continuous oil phase to the interface have been evaluated. n(a)(i),n(a)(i), standard Gibbs free energy (ΔG(t)(0)), standard enthalpy (ΔH(t)(0)), and standard entropy (ΔG(t)(0)) of transfer process have been found to be dependent on the molar ratio of water to surfactant (ω), type of nonionic surfactant and its content (X(Brij-58 or Brij-78)), oil and temperature. A correlation between (ΔH(t)(0)) and (ΔS(t)(0)) is examined at different experimental temperatures. Bulk surfactant composition dependent temperature insensitive microemulsions have been reported. Associated structural parameters, such as droplet dimensions and aggregation number of surfactant and cosurfactant at the droplet interface have been evaluated using a mathematical model after suitable modifications for mixed surfactant systems. In light of these parameters, the prospect of using these microemulsion systems for the synthesis of nanoparticles and the modulation of enzyme activity has been discussed. Correlations of the results in terms of the evaluated physicochemical parameters have been attempted.     

Interfacial composition, thermodynamic properties and structural parameters of water-in-oil microemulsions stabilized by 1-pentanol and mixed anionic + polyoxyethylene type nonionic surfactants

The interfacial composition $ \left( {n_a^i} \right) $ , thermodynamic properties and structural parameters of the stable water/(SDS + Brij-58 or Brij-78)/1-pentanol/heptane (or decane or isopropyl myristate) have been evaluated under various physicochemical environments by the dilution method. The results showed $ n_a^i $ values increase with increasing water content (ω?=?[water]/[surfactant]) for all the systems, whereas reverse trend was observed for (SDS/Brij-58)/heptane-derived system. The spontaneity of the transfer process of 1-pentanol from bulk oil to the interface $ \left[ { - \Delta G_t^0} \right] $ decreases with increase in ω for all the systems. The effective binding between 1-pentanol and surfactant(s) at the interface follows the order: SDS/Brij-78/IPM < SDS/Brij-58/IPM < SDS/Brij-78/Hp(or, Dc) < SDS/Brij-58/Hp(or, Dc), which corroborates well with the degree of spontaneity of the transfer process. The Gibbs free energy change $ \left( {\Delta G_t^0} \right) $ , standard enthalpy change $ \left( {\Delta H_t^0} \right) $ and standard entropy change $ \left( {\Delta S_t^0} \right) $ have been found to be dependent on ω, type of nonionic surfactant and its content (X_nonionic), oil and temperature, because of the interdependence of the partition equilibrium of Pn between bulk oil and the interface, and strong adsorption of both surfactants at the interface. Synergism in $ \Delta G_t^0 $ and $ \left[ {{{\left( { - \Delta C_P^0} \right)}_t}} \right] $ (standard specific heat change) is evidenced at equimolar composition of SDS and Brij-58 in both oils at all temperatures and advocates more favorable applications for the synthesis of nanoparticles and the modulation of enzyme activity. The radius of water pool (R_w) was very sensitive to the increment of water content and tuned up by the addition of Brijs, which followed the order with decreasing size: IPM < Dc < Hp.     

Microstructure and structural transition in microemulsions stabilized by aldonamide-type surfactants

Significant efforts were undertaken to characterize the microstructure and structural properties of water-in-oil (w/o), oil-in-water (o/w), and bicontinuous (bc) microemulsions composed of N-alkyl-N-methylgluconamides (n-alkyl = n-C(12)H(25), n-C(14)H(29), n-C(16)H(33)) and n-alcohols (ethanol, n-propanol, n-butanol) or iso-alcohols (iso-propanol, iso-butanol) as cosurfactants, as well as iso-octane and water. The internal structure of so created four-component system was elucidated by means of an analysis of isotropic area magnitudes in phase diagrams and conductivity measurements. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements provided the microemulsion size and polydispersity. Polarity and viscosity of microemulsion microenvironment were acquired by means of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), UV-vis absorption spectroscopy (in the case of w/o droplets), and steady-state fluorescence (SSF) (in the case of o/w droplets). The results show that both the surfactant and the cosurfactant types affect the shape and extent of microemulsions. The size of droplets depends strongly on the type of examined microemulsion and the type of cosurfactant (linear or brunched) but is almost independent of the length of the surfactant alkyl chain. The size of microemulsion droplets ranges from 8.1 to 22.6 nm and from 3.7 to 14.3 nm respectively, for o/w and o/w microemulsions, making them good candidates for both template-based reactions and household components solubilizing media.     

Conductivity of water-in-oil microemulsions: Fluctuations from the charge generation-recombination equilibrium

A theory for conductivity fluctuations in water-in-oil microemulsions is presented. The treatment is based on the charge fluctuations model proposed by Eicke et al., Hall, and Halle. The portion of current fluctuations due to fluctuations in the number of charge carriers is attributed to the charge generation-recombination equilibrium: two neutral drops positive drop+negative drop. The power spectrum of the fluctuations is a Lorentzian determined by the forward and reverse rates of this equilibrium. Implications of the charge fluctuation model for experimental studies of water-in-oil microemulsions are suggested.     

Organogels from water-in-oil microemulsions

A new family of organogels is described. They originate from water-in-oil microemulsions, from which the name microemulsion gels or microemulsion-based gels is derived. Two different types of such gels are presented here, referred to asgelatine gels andlecithin gels, respectively. In the case of gelatine gels, the initial ternary system typically consists of isooctane, AOT (bis 2-ethylhexyl sodiumsuccinate) and water; gelation is induced by solubilization of gelatine in the water microphase above a critical concentration. In the case of lecithin gels no polymeric material is needed. Starting from a reverse micellar solution of lecithin (50–200 mM) in an organic solvent, gelation is induced by the addition of a small amount of water. The molar ratio of water to lecithin typically varies between 1 and 12 for the 50 different solvents investigated to date. These gels are isotropic, thermoreversible and optically transparent.For both microemulsion gels the influence of the concentration of the components on gelation is presented in the form of preliminary phase diagrams.The physico-chemical properties of these organogels were characterized using a variety of techniques such as NMR, DSC, dynamic shear viscosity measurements, and light scattering. Based on these measurements, preliminary models for the structure of these novel systems were developed.It is possible to co-solubilize a variety of reactive molecules in these gels. Therefore, it may be possible to use these organogels for a number of chemical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic applications.Paper presented at the Workshop on Ringing Gels and Cubic Phases, Bayreuth, October 25–26, 1988.     

Foams stabilized by mixed cationic gemini/anionic conventional surfactants

The mixed adsorption of a cationic gemini surfactant, ethanediyl-1,2-bis(dodecyldimethylammonium bromide) (abbreviated as 12-2-12), and an anionic conventional surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), was examined using surface tension measurements. The viscoelastic properties of the mixed films were investigated by dilational interfacial rheology technique. The results showed that the addition of SDS promoted the close packing of adsorbed molecules at the interface, which increased the dilational elasticity of the mixed films. The stability of the foams was determined by the half-life of foam height collapse. The foams generated by 12-2-12/SDS mixtures were more stable than that formed by pure 12-2-12. In the presence of sodium bromide, the foam stability was further enhanced and the surfactant concentration required to attain the maximum effect in stabilizing foams was greatly reduced. The high foam stability could well relate to the high elasticity of the film.     

Ester aminolysis by morpholine in AOT-based water-in-oil microemulsions

A kinetic study of the aminolysis of p-nitrophenyl acetate (NPA) by morpholine (MOR) in AOT/isooctane/water (w/o) microemulsions was conducted. Based on the solubilities of NPA and MOR in water and isooctane, both compounds partition between the continuous medium, interface and water microdroplets of the microemulsion. Because the rate of the aminolysis reaction decreases with decreasing polarity of the solvent, the reaction must take place to a negligible extent in the continuous medium relative to the interface and the aqueous microdroplets. We used the pseudo-phase model to determine the rate constants at the interface, k(2)(i), and in the water microdroplets, k(2)(w). Both k(2)(i) and k(2)(w) were found to be independent of W in the aminolysis of NPA by MOR. This is a result of the expected increase in k(2)(w) on decreasing W being offset by the decrease in k(2)(i) with increase in the water content of the system. Based on the results, the reaction takes place to an extent of only 16% in the water microdroplets at W=40, the proportion decreasing with decreasing water content.     

Conductivity of water-in-oil microemulsions: Comparison of the Boltzmann statistics and the charge fluctuation model

The electrical conductivity of water-in-oil microemulsions is interpreted on the basis of the distribution of ionic charges among the droplets. The charging energy is approximated by the Born energy. In the interpretation, the hydrodynamic radius is distinguished from the water core radius. The Boltzmann statistics are compared with the fluctuation theory. The former approach is more realistic due to its consideration of the discrete nature of charge, while the latter better fits the data obtained with the AOT-water-isooctane system.     

Confinement of DNA in water-in-oil microemulsions

The study of systems that allow DNA condensation in confined environments is an important task in producing cell-mimicking microreactors capable of biochemical activities. The water droplets formed in water-in-oil emulsions are potentially good candidates for such microcompartments. The anionic surfactant AOT was used here to stabilize the droplets. We have studied in detail the DNA distribution and the structural modifications of these microemulsion drops by varying the concentration and molecular weight of DNA and using various techniques such as light, X-ray, and neutron scattering, electrical conductivity, and surface tension. DNA induces the formation of large drops into which it is internalized. The size of these drops depends on the amount of DNA dissolved in water as well as on its molecular weight. The local DNA concentration is very high (>100 mg/mL). The large drops coexist with small empty drops (not containing DNA), similar to those found in the DNA-free microemulsion.     

Zirconium phosphate nanoparticles from water-in-oil microemulsions

Non-ionic water-in-oil (w/o) microemulsions of pentaoxyethylenenonylphenyl ether (Igepal-CO520)/cyclohexane/water at 25 °C have been used as reaction vessels to obtain zirconium hydrogen phosphate nanoparticles.     

Head-group size or hydrophilicity of surfactants: the major regulator of lipase activity in cationic water-in-oil microemulsions

To determine the crucial role of surfactant head-group size in micellar enzymology, the activity of Chromobacterium Viscosum (CV) lipase was estimated in cationic water-in-oil (w/o) microemulsions of three different series of surfactants with varied head-group size and hydrophilicity. The different series were prepared by subsequent replacement of three methyl groups of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) with hydroxyethyl (1-3, series I), methoxyethyl (4-6, series II), and n-propyl (7-9, series III) groups. The hydrophilicity at the polar head was gradually reduced from series I to series III. Interestingly, the lipase activity was found to be markedly higher for series II surfactants relative to their more hydrophilic analogues in series I. Moreover, the activity remained almost comparable for complementary analogues of both series I and III, though the hydrophilicity was drastically different. Noticeably, the head-group area per surfactant is almost similar for comparable surfactants of both series I and III, but distinctly higher in case of series II surfactants. Thus the lipase activity was largely regulated by the surfactant head-group size, which plays the dominant role over the hydrophilicity. The increase in head-group size presumably allows the enzyme to attain a flexible conformation as well as increase in the local concentration of enzyme and substrate, leading to the higher efficiency of lipase. The lipase showed its best activity in the microemulsion of 6 probably because of its highest head-group size. Furthermore, the observed activity in 6 is 2-3-fold and 8-fold higher than sodium bis(2-ethyl-1-hexyl)sulfosuccinate (AOT) and CTAB-based microemulsions, respectively, and in fact highest ever in any w/o microemulsions.     

Studies in the phase behavior of the microemulsions formed by mixed cationic and nonionic surfactants

The middle-phase behavior for the systems of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)/poly-ethyleneglycol-9-monododecyl ether (AEO₉)/alcohol/oil/brine and CTAB/octylphenolpolyoxyethylene-10-ether (Triton X-100)/alcohol/oil/brine have been studied with ɛ-β fishlike phase diagram method. The interfacial layer composition was determined, and some significant physicochemical parameters are derived from the hydrophilic-lipophilic balance plane equation. The effects of different alcohols, oils, temperature and inorganic salt (NaCl) on the middle-phase behavior of microemulsion formed by composite CTAB/AEO₉ systems were also investigated systematically. The effects of different factors on the phase behavior of microemulsions formed by CTAB/AEO₉ and CTAB/TX-100 systems were compared. The results suggest that the solubilization of CTAB/AEO₉ microemulsion is higher than that of CTAB/TX-100 system under the same conditions.     

Oil-in-water microemulsions stabilized by charged diblock copolymers

We present here oil-in-water microemulsions stabilized by charged diblock copolymers alone, along with their structural characterization by small-angle neutron scattering measurements. They consist of swollen spherical micelles containing small amounts of oil in their core, which is surrounded by a corona of stretched polyelectrolyte chains. Structural changes, including core size variations, are evidenced when using a cosurfactant, or upon addition of salt, through a contraction of the charged corona. Attempts to relate the micellar structure to the individual copolymer characteristics are also presented, and show that the size of the hydrophobic block mainly determines that of the micelles.     

Magnesium hydroxide nanoparticles synthesized in water-in-oil microemulsions

Well-dispersed magnesium hydroxide nanoplatelets were synthesized by a simple water-in-oil (w/o) microemulsion process, blowing gaseous ammonia (NH(3)) into microemulsion zones solubilized by magnesium chloride solution (MgCl(2)). Typical quaternary microemulsions of Triton X-100/cyclohexane/n-hexanol/water were used as space-confining microreactors for the nucleation, growth, and crystallization of magnesium hydroxide nanoparticles. The obtained magnesium hydroxide was characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), high-resolution transmission election microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), laser light scattering, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and thermogravimetric analysis-differential scanning calorimetry (TGA-DSC). The mole ratio of water to surfactant (omega(0)) played an important role in the sizes of micelles and nanoparticles, increasing with the increase of omega(0). The compatibility and dispersibility of nanoparticles obtained from reverse micelles were improved in the organic phase.     

Preparation of Cu-Ni alloy nanocrystallites in water-in-oil microemulsions

The well-mixed copper-nickel nanoparticles were prepared when the molar ratio of Cu2+ to Ni2+ was 1:1 by simultaneous reduction of CuSO4 and NiCl2 with hydrazine in the microemulsion of SDS/n-butanol/n-heptane/water at 70 degrees C, and was characterized by TEM, ED, TGA, EDS, and XRD. ED analysis and XRD patterns suggest the formation of the homogeneous alloy structure in the bimetallic nanoparticles. Average size of the sample calculated from the full width at medium height of peak 111 in the XRD patterns using Scherrer formula is 5.53 nm. TEM photographs show a narrow distribution of Cu-Ni nanoparticles that essentially are monodispersed and the mean diameter is 12 nm. The results indicate that the composition and size of alloy nanoparticles depend on the mole ratio of H2O to SDS, the method of addition of Cu2+ and Ni2+, and the mole ratio of Cu2+ and Ni2+ in the initial precursor solution.     

Computer simulation of reverse micelles and water-in-oil microemulsions

The literature data are reviewed on molecular simulation of reverse micelles and water-in-oil microemulsions by the molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo methods. Different models of reverse micelles from a spherical cavity with an impenetrable wall to an atomistic ensemble of surfactant molecules are considered. The main structural and thermodynamic properties, as well as the dynamics of micelle components are considered. The results are compared with the data obtained using both a single model and models of different levels.     

Impedance spectroscopy investigation of the water-in-oil microemulsions formation

In this work it was investigated the microemulsion formation using impedance spectroscopy analysis. The results indicated that the microemulsion formation is clearly observed on the impedance complex plane. The phase transition related with microemulsion formation is characterized by a time relaxation distribution. In the condition of the microemulsion formation, the impedance spectra are characterized by a single relaxation time.     

Growth of silica nanoparticles in methylmethacrylate-based water-in-oil microemulsions

The mechanism of silica particle formation in monomer microemulsions is studied using dynamic light scattering (DLS), atomic force microscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and conductivity measurements. The hydrolysis of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) in methylmethacrylate (MMA) microemulsions (MMA = methylmethacrylate) is compared with the formation of SiO₂ particles in heptane microemulsions. Stable microemulsions without cosurfactant were found for MMA, the nonionic surfactant Marlophen NP10, and aqueous ammonia (0.75 wt%). In the one-phase region of the ternary phase diagram, the water/surfactant ratio (R _w) could be varied from 6 to 18. The DLS and SAXS measurements show that reverse micelles form in these water-in-oil (w/o) microemulsions. The minimum water-to-surfactant molar ratio required for micelle formation was determined. Particle formation is achieved from the base-catalyzed hydrolysis of TEOS. According to atomic force microscopy measurements of particles isolated from the emulsion, the particle size can be effectively tailored in between 20 and 60 nm by varying R _w from 2–6 in heptane w/o microemulsions. For MMA-based microemulsions, the particle diameter ranges from 25 to 50 nm, but the polydispersity is higher. Tailoring of the particle size is not achieved with R _w, but adjusting the particle growth period produces particles between 10 and 70 nm.     

Kinetic model for reactivity in quaternary water-in-oil microemulsions

A study was carried out on the nitrosation of piperazine (PIP) and N-methylbenzylamine (MeBzAm) by N-methyl-N-nitroso-p-toluenesulfonamide (MNTS) in quaternary microemulsions of tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTABr)/isooctane/alcohol/water, varying the nature and the concentration of the following alcohols: 1-pentanol, 1-hexanol, 1-heptanol, 1-octanol and 1-decanol keeping the [1-alcohol]/[TTABr] = 4 relationship constant. In addition a study was carried out on the influence of the alcohol concentration, working with molar relationships [1-hexanol]/[TTABr]=3, 4 and 5. On the basis of the molar volumes of the alcohol and surfactant and the concentration of alcohol at the interface it was possible to calculate the change in its volume with as varying compositions of the microemulsion. In order to interpret the experimental results a kinetic model was devised which takes into account the distribution of the reactants between the different pseudophases and the change in the volume of the interface. The rate constants at the interface of the microemulsion are lower than in pure water and are independent of the nature of the alcohol used as a cosurfactant and the molar relationship [alcohol]/[TTABr]. This independence indicates that the main role of the cosurfactant is to increase the volume of the interface with the consequent dilution of the reactants.