Adsorption of procaine at the mercury/electrolyte solution interface

The adsorption of the local anaesthetic procaine hydrochloride at the mercury/electrolyte interface solution is followed using capacitance measurements. The adsorption is studied at various procaine concentrations, in potassium chloride, potassium bromide or potassium fluoride used as supporting electrolytes, and at various pH values and temperatures. Procaine has basic properties with two acidity constants K. The results indicate the way the procaine molecules orientate at the interface. In all cases studied no hemimicelles or condensed film are observed.     

Adsorption and precipitation processes at cadmium oxide/sodium sulfate aqueous solution interface

The results of experimental studies of the adsorption of ions at the cadmium oxide/electrolyte solution interface are presented. On the basis of kinetic changes in the concentration of cadmium, hydroxide, and sulfate ions in the solution, the processes occurring in this system are discussed. It was found that cadmium oxide is transformed into the hexagonal form of cadmium hydroxide. The surface charge data for cadmium oxide/aqueous Na₂SO₄ are presented.     

Adsorption characteristics of zwitterionic diblock copolymers at the silica/aqueous solution interface

The adsorption of a zwitterionic diblock copolymer, poly(2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)-block-poly(methacrylic acid) (PDEA59-PMAA50), at the silica/aqueous solution interface has been characterised as a function of pH. In acidic solution, this copolymer forms core-shell micelles with the neutral PMAA chains being located in the hydrophobic cores and the protonated PDEA chains forming the cationic micelle coronas. In alkaline solution, the copolymer forms the analogous inverted micelles with anionic PMAA coronas and hydrophobic PDEA cores. The morphology of the adsorbed layer was observed in situ using soft-contact atomic force microscopy (AFM): this technique suggests the formation of a thin adsorbed layer at pH 4 due to the adsorption of individual copolymer chains (unimers) rather than micelle aggregates. This is supported by the remarkably low dissipation values and the relatively low degrees of hydration for the adsorbed layers, as estimated using a combination of quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) and optical reflectometry (OR). In alkaline solution, analysis of the adsorption data suggests a conformation for the adsorbed copolymers where one block projects normal to the solid/liquid interface; this layer consists of a hydrophobic PDEA anchor block adsorbed on the silica surface and an anionic PMAA buoy block extending into the solution phase. Tapping mode AFM studies were also carried out on the silica surfaces after removal from the copolymer solutions and subsequent drying. Interestingly, in these cases micelle-like surface aggregates were observed from both acidic and alkaline solutions. The lateral dimension of the aggregates seen is consistent with the corresponding hydrodynamic diameter of the copolymer micelles in bulk solution. The combination of the in situ and ex situ AFM data provides evidence that, for this copolymer, micelle aggregates are only seen in the ex situ dry state as a result of the substrate withdrawal and drying process. It remains unclear whether these aggregates are caused by micelle deposition at the surface during the substrate withdrawal from the solution or as a result of unimer rearrangements at the drying front as the liquid recedes from the surface.     

Adsorption of crotonaldehyde at the mercury/water interface

The adsorption of crotonaldehyde from aqueous 1 M KCl has been studied by means of differential capacity, zero charge potential and maximum surface tension measurements. The adsorption has been found to obey a Frumkin isotherm with the interaction parameter depending on the electric field. Different possible molecular orientations are suggested depending on charge and coverage. The contribution of the molecular dipole moment and differences in polarizability between the adsorbate and the solvent are considered.     

Adsorption of tetramethylthiourea at the mercury/water interface

The adsorption of tetramethylthiourea was studied by means of differential capacity measurements. Various parameters have been obtained by back-integration. The extent of orientation of the organic molecule has been estimated from the experimental adsorption potential shift by subtracting the contribution due to adsorbed water molecules calculated according to the Bockris-Habib model. Adsorption of tetramethylthiourea has been found to obey a Frumkin isotherm with the interaction parameter depending on the electric field. A scenario is proposed where different possible orientations are suggested, depending on charge sign and coverage. Such a change in orientation has been interpreted in terms of the electronic polarization effect.     

Adsorption characteristics of monomeric/gemini surfactant mixtures at the silica/aqueous solution interface

The adsorption of the monomeric/gemini surfactant mixtures at the silica/aqueous solution interface has been characterized on the basis of quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) data. The gemini surfactant employed in this study was cationic 1,2-bis(dodecyldimethylammonio)ethane dibromide (12-2-12). This surfactant was mixed with monomeric surfactants (dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB), hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HTAB), and octaoxyethylenedodecyl ether (C(12)EO(8))) in the presence of an added electrolyte (NaBr). The key finding in our current study is that the addition of the gemini surfactant (12-2-12) makes significant impact on the adsorption properties even when the mole fraction of 12-2-12 is quite low in the surfactant mixtures. This is suggested by the experimental results that (i) the QCM-D adsorption isotherms measured for the monomeric/gemini surfactant mixtures shift to the region of lower surfactant concentrations compared with the monomeric single systems; (ii) the adsorbed layer morphology largely depends on the mole fraction of 12-2-12 in the surfactant mixtures, and the increased 12-2-12 mole fraction results in the less curved surface aggregates; and (iii) the addition of 12-2-12 yields a relatively rigid adsorbed layer when compared with the layer formed by the monomeric single systems. These adsorption properties result from the fact that the more favorable interaction of 12-2-12 with the silica surface sites drives the overall surfactant adsorption in these mixtures, which is particularly obvious in the region of low surfactant concentrations and at the 12-2-12 low mole fractions. We believe that this knowledge should be important when considering the formulation of gemini surfactants into various chemical products.     

Molecular ordering and phase transitions in alkanol monolayers at the water-hexane interface

The interface between bulk water and bulk hexane solutions of n-alkanols (H(CH(2))(m)OH, where m=20, 22, 24, or 30) is studied with x-ray reflectivity, x-ray off-specular diffuse scattering, and interfacial tension measurements. The alkanols adsorb to the interface to form a monolayer. The highest density, lowest temperature monolayers contain alkanol molecules with progressive disordering of the chain from the -CH(2)OH to the -CH(3) group. In the terminal half of the chain that includes the -CH(3) group the chain density is similar to that observed in bulk liquid alkanes just above their freezing temperature. The density in the alkanol headgroup region is 10% greater than either bulk water or the ordered headgroup region found in alkanol monolayers at the water-vapor interface. We conjecture that this higher density is a result of water penetration into the headgroup region of the disordered monolayer. A ratio of 1:3 water to alkanol molecules is consistent with our data. We also place an upper limit of one hexane to five or six alkanol molecules mixed into the alkyl chain region of the monolayer. In contrast, H(CH(2))(30)OH at the water-vapor interface forms a close-packed, ordered phase of nearly rigid rods. Interfacial tension measurements as a function of temperature reveal a phase transition at the water-hexane interface with a significant change in interfacial excess entropy. This transition is between a low temperature interface that is nearly fully covered with alkanols to a higher temperature interface with a much lower density of alkanols. The transition for the shorter alkanols appears to be first order whereas the transition for the longer alkanols appears to be weakly first order or second order. The x-ray data are consistent with the presence of monolayer domains at the interface and determine the domain coverage (fraction of interface covered by alkanol domains) as a function of temperature. This temperature dependence is consistent with a theoretical model for a second order phase transition that accounts for the domain stabilization as a balance between line tension and long range dipole forces. Several aspects of our measurements indicate that the presence of domains represents the appearance of a spatially inhomogeneous phase rather than the coexistence of two homogeneous phases.     

A simple operational relationship between drop-time and interfacial tension at a charged mercury/aqueous solution interface

This paper describes a simple operational relationship between the drop-time of a dropping mercury electrode and the interfacial tension at a charged mercury/aqueous solution interface. An apparatus and technique for measuring drop-times is reported, and examples are given of the fit of experimental drop-times to literature values of interfacial tensions. The operational relationship is independent of temperature in the range 293-313 K.     

pH-responsive diblock copolymer micelles at the silica/aqueous solution interface: Adsorption kinetics and equilibrium studies

The adsorption behavior of two examples of a weakly basic diblock copolymer, poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)-block-poly(2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDMA-PDEA), at the silica/aqueous solution interface has been investigated using a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring and an optical reflectometer. Dynamic and static light scattering measurements have also been carried out to assess aqueous solution properties of such pH-responsive copolymers. In alkaline solution, core-shell micelles are formed above the critical micelle concentration (cmc) by both copolymers, whereas the chains are molecularly dissolved (as unimers) at all concentrations in acidic solution. As a result, the adsorption behavior of PDMA-PDEA diblock copolymers on silica is strongly dependent on both the copolymer concentration and the solution pH. Below the cmc at pH 9, the cationic PDMA-PDEA copolymers adsorb as unimers and the conformation of the adsorbed polymer is essentially flat. At concentrations just above the cmc, the initial adsorption of copolymer onto the silica is dominated by the unimers due to their faster diffusion compared to the much larger micelles. Rearrangement of the adsorbed unimers and/or their subsequent displacement by micelles from solution is then observed during an equilibration period, and the final adsorbed mass is greater than that observed below the cmc. At concentrations well above the cmc, the much higher proportion of micelles in solution facilitates more effective competition for the surface at all stages of the adsorption process and no replacement of initially adsorbed unimers by micelles is evident. However, the adsorbed layer undergoes gradual rearrangement after initial adsorption. This relaxation is believed to result from a combination of further copolymer adsorption and swelling of the adsorbed layer.     

Adsorption of methylmethacrylate-vinylferrocene copolymers at the solution/solid interface

A series of methylmethacrylate–vinylferrocene random copolymers was synthesized and characterized. Their adsorption from toluene and chloroform was measured onto pyrogenic silicas. The level of adsorption depended on the solvent, the surface area of the adsorbent, and the copolymer composition. Thus, an inverse adsorption-solubility relationship for toluene and chloroform was observed. However, in solvents such as tetrahydrofuran, 2-butanone, and cyclobutanone, which have strong interaction with silica, this trend was not evident. The compositional dependence of the adsorption of these copolymers in toluene and chloroform is similar. Initially, adsorption tends to increase with the vinylferrocene content in the polymer, and at equimolar copolymer compositions the adsorption reaches a maximum which is followed by a decrease in the adsorption values at high vinylferrocene contents. Gel permeation chromatography(GPC) measurements allowed us to conclude that high molecular weight polymer was preferentially adsorbed.     

Adsorption of methylamine at a polycrystalline gold/solution interface

Adsorptive behaviour of the methylamine molecules has been investigated by measuring changes in the differential capacitance of the double layer at the gold/solution interface by the tensammetric method. The differences in adsorption parameters at Θ < 0.8 and >0.8 have been explained by changes in arrangement of the adsorbate.     

Adsorption of protein/surfactant complexes at the air/aqueous interface

We use optical reflectometry and surface pressure techniques to measure co-adsorption of the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and the protein lysozyme at the air-aqueous interface. We observe lysozyme/SDS co-adsorption behavior in two different buffers for which solution-phase binding data are available in the literature. The co-adsorption of lysozyme/SDS complexes is controlled by the mode of protein/surfactant binding that occurs in solution. In a pH 5.0 acetate buffer, the extent of co-adsorption is weakly dependent on SDS concentration throughout the specific and transitional binding regimes. In a pH 6.9 phosphate buffer, the extent of co-adsorption is weakly dependent on SDS concentration in the specific binding regime, but it increases dramatically, giving rise to multilayer co-adsorption, in the transitional binding regime. In both buffers, the extent of co-adsorption dramatically decreases in the cooperative binding regime. Lysozyme/SDS co-adsorption is strongly influenced by kinetically trapped non-equilibrium adsorbed layer states, such that adsorbed amounts are markedly path-dependent. Surface pressure measurements by themselves do not capture the variations in adsorption in the different binding regimes, nor do they capture the path-dependency of co-adsorption.     

Adsorption studies of mercury on zirconium oxide from aqueous solution

The adsorption of mercury on zirconium oxide from aqueous solution has been studied in relation to concentration of adsorbent and adsorbate. The influence of contact time, buffer composition, pH, and foreign ions was also investigated. Thiosulfate, iodide, thiocyanate, EDTA, cyanide and Li(I) drastically reduced adsorption. Adsorption of other metal ions under the same conditions was also investigated. Based on these data, separation of mercury from antimony and neodymium can be achieved.     

Surface activity and orientation of inosine at a mercury/solution interface

Summary A systematic investigation on the adsorption and association of inosine at a hanging mercury drop electrode by phase-sensitive ac voltammetry has been performed. The adsorption equilibrium bas been determined as a function of various parameters such aspH, adsorption potential, adsorption time, and bulk concentration of inosine. It was found that the association of the adsorbed species depends predominantly on the stacking interactions of neutral inosine molecules. Over a wide potential range, inosine exhibits a dilute adsorption characteristic where it is adsorbed with the base flat on the electrode surface. Above a certain threshold value, inosine appears to undergo a surface reorientation and adopts a perpendicular position. The nucleation and growth mechanism is analyzed applying theAvrami equation. Characteristic properties and adsorption parameters of dilute and compact layers of inosine were evaluated from the two-stepFrumkin isotherm and from the potential dependence of adsorption.

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Oberflächenaktivität und Orientierung von Inosin an einer Quecksilber/Lösungs-Grenzfläche

Zusammenfassung Die Adsorption und Assoziation von Inosin an einer Quecksilbertropfelektrode wurde mittels phasensensitiver AC-Voltammetrie systematisch untersucht. Die Abhängigkeit des Adsorptionsgleichgewichts von Parametern wiepH-Wert, Adsorptionspotential, Adsorptionszeit und Inosinkonzentration wurde gemessen. Dabei zeigte sich, daß die Assoziation der adsorbierten Spezies vorwiegend von der Anordnung und den Wechselwirkungen der neutralen Inosinmoleküle abhängt. Inosin bildet über einen weiten Potentialbereich eine dünne Adsorptionsschicht aus, wobei die Base flach auf der Elektrodenoberfläche aufliegt. Ab einem bestimmten Grenzwert der Konzentration tritt eine Reorientierung zu einer senkrechten Anordnung ein. Keimbildung und Wachstumsmechanismus wurden mittels derAvrami-Gleichung analysiert. Eigenschaften und Adsorptionsparameter der verdünnten und der kompakten Inosinschicht konnten aus der zweistufigenFrumkin-Isotherme und aus der Potentialabhängigkeit der Adsorption bestimmt werden.

     

Adsorption of poly(ethylene glycol) s on mercury/aqueous solution interface 2. Influence of the chain length

The adsorption on a mercury/aqueous solution interface of poly(ethylene glycol)s (PEGs) with molecular weights from 200 to 20 000 was studied by a.c. voltammetry in order to understand better the adsorption of linear components of fulvic acids on hydrophobic particles in natural waters, and the influence of their adsorption on voltammetric signals. As a general trend it was noted that the equilibrium adsorption constant increases with the molecular weight while the adsorption rate decreases. The values of the maximum surface concentration F. suggest a flat configuration for adsorbed molecules for all PEGs studied.