On the temperature percolation in a w/o microemulsion in the presence of organic derivatives of chalcogens

The course of temperature percolation in a w/o microemulsion system comprising water/bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate sodium, AOT/isooctane affected by the presence of additives has been investigated. Additives, viz., organic derivatives of chalcogens including dipyridyl diselenide (Py2Se2), diphenyl diselenide (Ph2Se2), and dipyridyl ditelluride (Py2Te2), have been assimilated in the reverse micellar system. Formulations have been studied in terms of (i) the concentration variation of additives, (ii) the change in omega (= [H2O]/[AOT]), and (iii) the change in the nonpolar continuum, S (= [oil]/[AOT]). Phenyl derivatives hinder the percolation, whereas the pyridyl derivative in moderate amounts favors the phenomenon. The estimated values of the critical exponents are lower than those predicted by the dynamic percolation theory. The association model has been implemented to access the thermodynamic parameters of droplet clustering. Pyridyl compounds are expected to alter the rigidity of the surfactant monolayer, which could help to promote the attractive interdroplet interaction. FT-IR spectroscopy has been used to elucidate the changes occurring in the core water in the presence of organic derivatives of chalcogens as the droplet size is increased. Results have been rationalized in terms of the alteration in the physicochemical behavior of the water/AOT/isooctane microemulsion in the presence of additives.     

Percolation phenomenon in mixed reverse micelles: the effect of additives

The conductivity of AOT/IPM/water reverse micellar systems as a function of temperature, has been found to be non-percolating at three different concentrations (100, 175 and 250 mM), while the addition of nonionic surfactants [polyoxyethylene(10) cetyl ether (Brij-56) and polyoxyethylene(20) cetyl ether (Brij-58)] to these systems exhibits temperature-induced percolation in conductance in non-percolating AOT/isopropyl myristate (IPM)/water system at constant compositions (i.e., at fixed total surfactant concentration, omega and X(nonionic)). The influence of total surfactant concentration (micellar concentration) on the temperature-induced percolation behaviors of these systems has been investigated. The effect of Brij-58 is more pronounced than that of Brij-56 in inducing percolation. The threshold percolation temperature, Tp has been determined for these systems in presence of additives of different molecular structures, physical parameters and/or interfacial properties. The additives have shown both assisting and resisting effects on the percolation threshold. The additives, bile salt (sodium cholate), urea, formamide, cholesteryl acetate, cholesteryl benzoate, toluene, a triblock copolymer [(EO)13(PO)30(EO)13, Pluronic, PL64], polybutadiene, sucrose esters (sucrose dodecanoates, L-1695 and sucrose monostearate S-1670), formamide distinctively fall in the former category, whereas sodium chloride, cholesteryl palmitate, crown ether, ethylene glycol constitute the latter for both systems. Sucrose dodecanoates (L-595) had almost marginal effect on the process. The observed behavior of these additives on the percolation phenomenon has been explained in terms of critical packing parameter and/or other factors, which influence the texture of the interface and solution properties of the mixed reverse micellar systems. The activation energy, Ep for the percolation process has been evaluated. Ep values for the AOT/Brij-56 systems have been found to be lower than those of AOT/Brij-58 systems. The concentration of additives influence the parameters Tp and Ep for both systems. A preliminary report for the first time on the percolation phenomenon in mixed reverse micelles in presence of additives has been suggested on the basis of these parameters (Tp and Ep).     

Influence of anionic surfactants on the electric percolation of AOT/isooctane/water microemulsions

A study was carried out concerning the influence of sodium alkyl sulfonates on the electric percolation of AOT/isooctane/water microemulsions ([AOT] = 0.5 M and W = [H2O]/[AOT] = 22.2). An important effect was observed with regard to the percolation temperature caused by the addition of small quantities of alkyl sulfonates (rho = [alkyl sulfonate]/[AOT] = 0.01). The short chain alkyl sulfonates (C3-C5) cause an increase in the percolation temperature, which in turn is reduced as we increase the chain length of the additive until we obtain a percolation temperature which is lower than that which is observed in the absence of an additive (C6-C8). For hydrocarbon chains of a greater length we can observe a new increase in the percolation temperature (C10-C18). This behavior has been explained as a consequence of (i) the incorporation of the additives at the interphase of the microemulsion and (ii) the geometric parameters of the different surfactants added to the microemulsion.     

Quenching of fluorescence of 1-hydroxypyrene-3,6,8-trisulfonate (HPTS) by Cu2+, Co2+, Ni2+, I-, and cetylpyridinium (CP+) ions in water/AOT/heptane microemulsion

The quenching of the fluorescence of HPTS (1-hydroxypyrene-3,6,8-trisulfonate) by Cu(2+), Ni(2+), Co(2+), I(-), and CP(+) (cetylpyridinium cation) has been studied in the w/o microemulsion medium formed with water, AOT [sodium salt of bis (2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinic acid], and heptane as components at two [H(2)O]/[AOT] ratios (omega), 6 and 20. The quenching process has been found to be dynamic in nature. The lifetimes of HPTS in the microemulsion medium in the absence and in the presence of quencher have been determined. The analysis of the results has been performed in terms of the Stern-Volmer equation and the quenching sphere of action model. The Poisson distribution equation has been also used in the analysis of the probability of quencher distribution in the microemulsion compartment. The quenching of HPTS has been found to be much lower in microemulsion than in bulk water.     

Influence of polyethylene glycols on percolative phenomena in AOT microemulsions

The influence of different polyethylene glycol (PEG) on the percolation of the ternary system composed by sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT) + isooctane + water has been studied. The additives used were chosen on the basis of its chain length (the number of polymeric units). In all cases, we observed a decrease in the percolation threshold on increasing the amount of PEG added to the AOT microemulsions. We observed a correlation between the effect exerted by the additive upon the percolation temperature and its chain length. Moreover, a relationship between the percolation temperature and the additive partition coefficient between 1-octanol and water (logP) was found. Both of them proved the importance of the inclusion of the additives into the microemulsion interface to explain their influence upon the percolative phenomenon. Such inclusion modified the properties of the AOT film, facilitating the exchange of matter between droplets.     

Structural transitions in the aot-nonane-water supramolecular catalytic system in the presence of mono-and polyethylene glycol

Structural behavior of docusate-based reverse micellar systems modified with ethylene glycol and polyethylene glycol (m.w. 10,000) was investigated. It was shown that the percolation temperature threshold decreases in the presence of mono-and polyethylene glycol. Percolation induction mechanism is discussed in view of the decrease of micelle surface curvature and the clustering of microemulsion droplets on the polymeric matrix.     

"Black spots" in a surfactant-rich Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction dispersed in a water-in-oil microemulsion system

The Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction dispersed in water-in-oil aerosol OT (AOT) microemulsion has been studied at small radius R(d) of water nanodroplets (R(d) (nm) congruent with0.17omega,omega = [H(2)O][AOT] = 9). Stationary spotlike and labyrinthine Turing patterns are found close to the fully oxidized state. These patterns, islands of high concentration of the reduced state of the Ru(bpy)(3) (2+) catalyst, can coexist either with "black" reduction waves or, under other conditions, with the "white" oxidation waves usually observed in the BZ reaction. The experimental observations are analyzed with the aid of a new Oregonator-like model and qualitatively reproduced in computer simulations.     

Effect of Polymer and Surfactant‐Polymer Couples on the Acid-Catalyzed Hydrolysis of Phenyl Urea

The mechanism of the hydrolysis decomposition of phenyl urea in acid, polymer, and surfactant‐polymer media was investigated, the addition‐elimination mechanism with rate determining attack of water at N‐protonated substrate having already been studied. This study has introduced the polymer PEG (MW‐400) and (surfactant‐polymer) (ceteyl trimethyl ammonium bromide‐poly ethylene glycol) (CTAB‐PEG), (cetyl pyridinium bromide‐polyethylene glycol) (CPC‐PEG) (sodium dodecyl sulphate‐poly ethylene glycol) (SDS‐PEG), (Triton X‐100‐poly ethylene glycol) (TX‐100‐PEG), and (Brij35‐poly ethylene glycol) (Brij35‐PEG) in acid media. The results indicate that the presence of polymer and surfactant‐polymer enhances the rate of reaction at 80°C in the presence of 0.9 M H₂SO₄. Kinetic studies show that the reaction obeyed first‐order kinetics. The reaction kinetics can be well explained by micellar catalysis models like the PPIE.     

Oil-continuous microemulsions mixed with an amphiphilic graft copolymer or with the parent homopolymer Polymer–droplet interactions as revealed by phase behavior and light scattering

Polymer–droplet interactions have been studied in AOT/water/isooctane oil-continuous microemulsions mixed with an amphiphilic graft copolymer, or with the parent homopolymer (AOT = sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate). The graft copolymer has an oil-soluble poly(dodecyl methacrylate) backbone and water-soluble poly(ethylene glycol) side chains. Pseudo-ternary polymer/droplet/isooctane phase diagrams have been established for both the parent homopolymer and the graft copolymer, and the two types of mixture display entirely different phase behavior. The homopolymer–droplet interaction is repulsive, and a segregative phase separation occurs at high droplet concentrations. By contrast, the graft copolymer–droplet interaction is attractive: the polymer is insoluble in the pure oil, but dissolves in the microemulsion. A comparatively high concentration of droplets is required to solubilize even small amounts of polymer. Static and dynamic light scattering has been performed in order to obtain information on structure and dynamics in the two types of mixture. For optically matched microemulsions, with a vanishing excess polarizability of the droplets, the polymer dominates the intensity of scattered light. The absolute intensity of scattered light increases as phase separation is approached owing to large-scale concentration fluctuations. Dynamic light scattering shows two populations of diffusion coefficients; one population originates from “free” microemulsion droplets and the other from the polymer (for homopolymer mixtures) or from polymer–droplet aggregates (for mixtures with the graft copolymer). The graft copolymer forms large polymer–droplet aggregates with a broad size distribution, which coexist with a significant fraction of free droplets.     

Influence of glymes upon percolative phenomena in AOT-based microemulsions

A study was carried out on the influence of different polyethylene glycol dimethyl ethers (glymes) on the conductance percolation of AOT/isooctane/water microemulsions. The glymes used were chosen on the basis of this chain length (the number of polymeric units). In all cases we observed a decrease in the percolation threshold on increasing the amount of a glyme added to the microemulsion. We observed a correlation between the effect exerted by the glyme and its chain length, which shows the importance of including them in the interface for the percolative phenomenon. Such inclusion modifies the properties of the AOT film, facilitating the exchange of matter between droplets.     

Kinetics of the Oxidation of Phenylhydrazine by [Fe(CN)6]3− in Water‐in‐Oil Microemulsions

The oxidation reaction of phenyl hydrazine (Phh) by hexacyanoferrate ([Fe(CN)₆]^3?) has been studied in water‐in‐oil (w/o) microemulsion media. The kinetic profile of the reaction was investigated as a function of [Phh], droplet size, and droplet concentration. Comparison of the kinetic profiles of the reaction in microemulsion, water‐urea, and water‐AOT‐urea media indicates that the kinetic profile of the reaction in microemulsion shows a behavior similar to that of the reaction in water‐AOT‐urea medium at 4 M urea. An initial increase and then a decrease in k_obs is observed with increasing molar ratio, W_o(=[H₂O]/[AOT]) at constant [AOT] (=0.4 M), whereas k_obs decreases upon increasing the AOT concentration at constant molar ratio.     

Specifics of the formation of J-aggregates of cyanine dyes in solutions of AOT/water/hexane reverse micelles

The behavior of a cyanine dye (3,3′-di-(gamma-sulfopropyl)-4,5,4′,5′-dibenzo-9-ethylthiacarbocyanine betaine pyridinium salt) was studied in AOT/water/hexane reverse micelles over a wide range of W at various concentrations of the dye, AOT, and reverse micelles. The processes occurring during the formation of the AOT/water/hexane micellar solution were studied in detail. It has been shown that, before the formation of the stable microemulsion, the dye aggregation processes occur by virtue of the interaction of the dye with the AOT anion. The amount of J-aggregates is proportional to the logarithm of the ratio of the amount of AOT molecules to the amount of dye molecules. The time behavior of J-aggregates after the formation of a micellar structure depends on the concentration of reverse micelles, thereby indicating an important role of intermicellar exchange.     

用于输送siRNA的聚乙烯亚胺-聚乙二醇二丙烯酸酯纳米凝胶

阐述了一种新的用于输送小干扰核糖核酸(siRNA)的聚乙烯亚胺-聚乙二醇二丙烯酸酯纳米凝胶的合成及其表征.在反相微乳液体系中,聚乙烯亚胺(PEI)和聚乙二醇二丙烯酸酯(PEG-DA)通过麦克尔加成交联得到纳米凝胶.1H-NMR和FTIR的结果充分证明纳米凝胶的化学结构,而动态光散射则表明纳米凝胶的颗粒粒径均匀,约为180 nm,zeta电位为37.9 mV.同时,MTT结果表明纳米凝胶在高达1 mg/mL的浓度下对MCF-7细胞也基本没有毒性.凝胶阻滞实验证明纳米凝胶在体外可以通过静电相互作用稳定结合siRNA.转染实验结果表明纳米凝胶与GFP siRNA的复合物能降低MCF-7 KMRV细胞(一种能稳定表达GFP蛋白的MCF-7细胞系)GFP蛋白的表达.以上结果证明这种生物相容性的纳米凝胶可以结合并输送siRNA进入细胞,沉默相关基因的表达.     

Dynamics in water-AOT-n-decane microemulsions with poly(ethylene glycol) probed by dielectric spectroscopy

Water in oil microemulsions, consisting of water, AOT and n-decane, have been used as a model system to investigate the influence of the water soluble polymer PEO on the dynamical behavior of the system. Therefore dielectric relaxation spectroscopy and conductivity, extracted from dielectric spectroscopy, measurements in a wide frequency and temperature range have been applied. The pure microemulsion displays the known phenomenon of percolation that manifests in a steep increase of conductivity at the percolation temperature $T_\text{P}Water in oil microemulsions, consisting of water, AOT and n-decane, have been used as a model system to investigate the influence of the water soluble polymer PEO on the dynamical behavior of the system. Therefore dielectric relaxation spectroscopy and conductivity, extracted from dielectric spectroscopy, measurements in a wide frequency and temperature range have been applied. The pure microemulsion displays the known phenomenon of percolation that manifests in a steep increase of conductivity at the percolation temperature T_\textPT_\text{P}. The percolation temperature has been found to be strongly dependent on droplet volume fraction and droplet size. The latter additionally shows that percolation temperature and surfactant film rigidity are proportional. Far from percolation water-AOT-n-decane microemulsions display two dielectric relaxations. The slower one has a relaxation time of t ? 3·10^-6 \texts\tau \approx 3\cdot 10^{-6}~\text{s} and can be related to an interfacial polarization at the interface of the water core and the AOT shell (core relaxation). The faster one has a relaxation time of t ? 10^-9 \texts\tau \approx 10^{-9}~\text{s} and can be related to the ions in the AOT shell(shell or cluster relaxation). While the first is mainly untouched by the percolation phenomenon, the latter undergoes a slowdown and an increase of relaxation strength, both over about two decades, on approaching the percolation transition. Addition of PEO tremendously shifts the percolation transition to higher temperatures, due to adsorption at the AOT layer which leads to an increase in rigidity. Furthermore a lower phase boundary temperature evolves, below which the microemulsion phase separates. The conductivity of the microemulsion is also slightly increased with polymer. The effect on the dielectric properties is only small, where dielectric relaxation times are reduced by the polymer, while only the relaxation strength of the faster relaxation is influenced and also decreases with polymer. The decreased relaxation time of core relaxation can be either due to changes in the core to shell volume ratio or an increased conductivity of the water core. The decrease in relaxation time and strength of the shell relaxation suggest that the ion mobility in the shell increase, while the dipole moment is reduced. Additionally we applied a cluster relaxation model proposed by Cametti et al. (Phys Rev Lett 75(3):569, 1995) and Bordi et al. (J Phys, Condens Matter 8:A19, 1996) to estimate the cluster size evolution.     

Effects of Alkylamines on the Percolation Phenomena in Water/AOT/Isooctane Microemulsions

We carried out an investigation on the influence of several alkylamines, frequently present in reactions carried out in microemulsions, on the properties of the water/AOT/isooctane system. The presence of alkylamines has an important effect on the electrical percolation phenomena. This effect of amines on the electrical percolation of microemulsions of AOT/isooctane/water can be explained by taking into account the ability of these substrates to associate with the AOT film in the microemulsion, the basicity of the amine, and the different solubility of the amine in the three pseudophases of the system. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Influence of n-alkyl acids on the percolative phenomena in AOT-based microemulsions

A study was carried out on the influence of the n-alkyl acid addition on the electric percolation of AOT/iso-octane/water microemulsions ([AOT] = 0.5 M and W= [H(2)O]/[AOT] = 22.2). The observed influence has been explained taking into account the organic nature of these molecules and, hence, their capacity of disturbing the structure of the AOT-film. For these reasons, relationships with their molecular structure (chain length) were analysed.     

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.     

Phase behaviors of AOT/longer chain n-alkanes reverse micelles in the presence of compressed ethylene

It was found that, in a suitable pressure range, ethylene could increase the amount of solubilized water in reverse micelles of sodium bis-2-ethylhexylsulfosuccinate (AOT) in longer chain n-alkanes considerably, where the phase separation was induced by a micelle-micelle interaction mechanism. The microenvironments in the ethylene-stabilized reverse micelles were investigated by the UV-vis adsorption spectra using methyl orange (MO) as a probe. The maximum absorption of MO decreased with the increase of ethylene pressure at constant W0 value. Conductivity measurements demonstrated that the percolation temperature of the reverse micellar system increased considerably after compressed ethylene was added. The results of this work confirm that some small-molecule gases have the function of cosurfactants to stabilize reverse micelles.     

Excess molar enthalpies of binary mixtures containing ethylene glycols or poly(ethylene glycols) + ethyl alcohol at 308.15 K and atmospheric pressure

Excess molar enthalpies, , of binary mixtures containing ethylene glycols and poly(glycols) + ethyl alcohol were measured by a flow microcalorimeter at 308.15 K and at atmospheric pressure over the whole composition range. Binary mixtures contain ethyl alcohol + ethylene glycol, + di(ethylene glycol), + tri(ethylene glycol), + tetra(ethylene glycol), + poly(ethylene glycol)-200, + poly(ethylene glycol)-300, + poly(ethylene glycol)-400, + poly(ethylene glycol)-600. Effects of the molecular weight distribution (MWD), of the polymer were investigated too, by preparing three additional samples of poly(ethylene glycol) with the same number average molecular weight (M_n ≈ 300), but different MWD. For all mixtures, results were fitted to the Redlich–Kister polynomial. curves are asymmetrical, showing positive values which vary from 280 J mol⁻¹ (diethylene glycol + ethyl alcohol) to 1034 J mol⁻¹ (mixture containing PEGs (200 + 400) + ethyl alcohol). Effects of changes in the glycols chain length and in MWD on the molecular interactions among the mixture components are discussed.     

Compressed CO2 in AOT reverse micellar solution: effect on stability, percolation, and size

The effects of compressed CO(2) in sodium bis-2-ethylhexylsulfosuccinate (AOT)/decane reversed micellar solution on the stability of the micelles, interface, and micelle/micelle interactions were studied. It was demonstrated that the compressed gas could increase the solubilization of water in this system. The formation of the stabilized one-phase microemulsion was confirmed by conductivity measurements. A shift in percolation threshold to higher temperature was observed after compressed gas was added. The gyration radius (R(g)) of the reverse micelles was determined using SAXS. R(g) increases with the addition of water, while it decreases appreciably with increasing pressure of compressed gas at fixed W(0). These results were interpreted in terms of an increase of the rigidity of the interface layer and a decrease of the interdroplet attraction. The results of this work provide useful information to get insight into the mechanism of cosurfactants to stabilize reverse micelles.