Micellization and interaction of anionic and nonionic mixed surfactant systems in water

Interaction between binary surfactant mixtures containing anionic surfactants viz. sodium dodecyl sulphates (NaDS) and magnesium dodecyl sulphates (Mg(DS)₂) and a nonionic surfactants viz. dodecyl dodecapolyethylene glycol ether (C₁₂E₁₂) and dodecyl pentadecapolyethylene glycol ether (C₁₂E₁₅) in water at different mole fractions (0–1) were studied by surface tension, viscometry and dynamic light scattering (DLS) methods. The composition of mixed micelles and the interaction parameter, β evaluated from the CMC data obtained by surface tension for different systems using Rubingh's theory were discussed. Activity coefficient (f₁ and f₂) of metal dodecyl sulphates (MDS)/C₁₂E_m (m = 12, 15) mixed surfactant systems were evaluated, which shows extent of ideality of individual surfactant in mixed system. The estimated interaction parameter indicates an overall attractive interaction in the mixed micelles, which is predominant for NaDS as compared to Mg(DS)₂. Counter ion valency has specific effect on the mixed micelles, as Mg(DS)₂ has less interaction with nonionic surfactants in comparison to NaDS due to strong condensation of counter ion. The stability factors for mixed micelles were also discussed by Maeda's approach, which was justified on the basis of steric factor due to difference in head group of nonionic surfactant. DLS measurements and viscosity data reveals the synergism in mixed micelles, showing typical viscosity trends and linearity in sizes were observed.     

Intercalation of a nonionic surfactant (C10E3) bilayer into a Na-montmorillonite clay

A nonionic surfactant, triethylene glycol mono-n-decyl ether (C(10)E(3)), characterized by its lamellar phase state, was introduced in the interlayer of a Na-montmorillonite clay at several concentrations. The synthesized organoclays were characterized by small-angle X-ray scattering in conjunction with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and adsorption isotherms. Experiments showed that a bilayer of C(10)E(3) was intercalated into the interlayer space of the naturally exchanged Na-montmorillonite, resulting in the aggregation of the lyotropic liquid crystal state in the lamellar phase. This behavior strongly differs from previous observations of confinement of nonionic surfactants in clays where the expansion of the interlayer space was limited to two monolayers parallel to the silicate surface and cationic surfactants in clays where the intercalation of organic compounds is introduced into the clay galleries through ion exchange. The confinement of a bilayer of C(10)E(3) nonionic surfactant in clays offers new perspectives for the realization of hybrid nanomaterials, since the synthesized organoclays preserve the electrostatic characteristics of the clays, thus allowing further ion exchange while presenting at the same time a hydrophobic surface and a maximum opening of the interlayer space for the adsorption of neutral organic molecules of important size with functional properties.     

Micellar Interactions in Nonionic/Ionic Mixed Surfactant Systems

To study the influence of the chemical nature of headgroups and the type of counterion on the process of micellization in mixed surfactant systems, the cmc's of several binary mixtures of surfactants with the same length of hydrocarbon tail but with different headgroups have been determined as a function of the monomer composition using surface tension measurements. Based on these results, the interaction parameter between the surfactant species in mixed micelles has been determined using the pseudophase separation model. Experiments were carried out with (a) the nonionic/anionic C(12)E(6)/SDS ((hexa(ethyleneglycol) mono-n-dodecyl ether)/(sodium dodecyl sulfate)), (b) amphoteric/anionic DDAO/SDS ((dodecyldimethylamine oxide)/(sodium dodecyl sulfate)), and (c) amphoteric/nonionic C(12)E(6)/DDAO mixed surfactant systems. In the case of the mixed surfactant systems containing DDAO, experiments were carried out at pH 2 and pH 8 where the surfactant was in the cationic and nonionic form, respectively. It was shown that the mixtures of the nonionic surfactants with different kinds of headgroups exhibit almost ideal behavior, whereas for the nonionic/ionic surfactant mixtures, significant deviations from ideal behavior (attractive interactions) have been found, suggesting binding between the head groups. Molecular orbital calculations confirmed the existence of the strong specific interaction between (1) SDS and nonionic and cationic forms of DDAO and between (2) C(12)E(6) and the cationic form of DDAO. In the case for the C(12)E(6)/SDS system, an alternative mechanism for the stabilization of mixed micelles was suggested, which involved the lowering in the free energy of the hydration layer. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Structure and composition of cationic-nonionic surfactant mixed adsorbed layers on mica

The composition and morphology of mixed adsorbed layers comprising one of several poly(oxyethylene) alkyl ether nonionic surfactants, C(i)E(j), and two cationic surfactants-dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) and tetradecyltriethylammonium bromide (TTeAB)-at the mica/solution interface have been studied using depletion adsorption and atomic force microscopy. The nonionic surfactants do not themselves adsorb onto mica, but can coadsorb with a cationic surfactant. The extent of their hydrophobic association with the adsorbed cationic surfactant depends on alkyl chain length, while the adsorbed layer morphologies are sensitive to the number of ethoxy groups. Nonionic surfactants with headgroups containing less than eight ethylene oxide units decrease the adsorbed aggregate curvature, gradually transforming globular TTeAB or cylindrical DTAB adsorbed aggregates into a rod, mesh, or bilayer structure. Those with larger headgroups favor globular aggregates. The mechanism by which the nonionic surfactant modifies the adsorbed morphology is the formation of defects in the form of cylinder end-caps or branch-points, leading to adsorbed layer compositions that differ from ideal mixing predictions. All mixed adsorbed films become saturated with the nonionic component when the capacity of the aqueous side of the adsorbed layer is reached.     

Microstructure of un-neutralized hydrophobically modified alkali-soluble emulsion latex in different surfactant solutions

At low pH conditions and in the presence of anionic, cationic, and nonionic surfactants, hydrophobically modified alkali-soluble emulsions (HASE) exhibit pronounced interaction that results in the solubilization of the latex. The interaction between HASE latex and surfactant was studied using various techniques, such as light transmittance, isothermal titration calorimetry, laser light scattering, and electrophoresis. For anionic surfactant, noncooperative hydrophobic binding dominates the interaction at concentrations lower than the critical aggregation concentration (CAC) (C < CAC). However, cooperative hydrophobic binding controls the formation of mixed micelles at high surfactant concentrations (C > or = CAC), where the cloudy solution becomes clear. For cross-linked HASE latex, anionic surfactant binds only noncooperatively to the latex and causes it to swell. For cationic surfactant, electrostatic interaction occurs at very low surfactant concentrations, resulting in phase separation. With further increase in surfactant concentration, noncooperative hydrophobic and cooperative hydrophobic interactions dominate the binding at low and high surfactant concentrations, respectively. For anionic and cationic surfactant systems, the CAC is lower than the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of surfactants in water. In addition, counterion condensation plays an important role during the binding interaction between HASE latex and ionic surfactants. In the case of nonionic surfactants, free surfactant micelles are formed in solution due to their relatively low CMC values, and HASE latexes are directly solubilized into the micellar core of nonionic surfactants.     

Mixed micelle formation among anionic gemini surfactant (212) and its monomer (SDMA) with conventional surfactants (C12E5 and C12E8) in brine solution at pH 11

The micellization of anionic gemini surfactant, N,N'-ethylene(bis(sodium N-dodecanoyl-beta-alaninate)) (212), and its monomer, N-dodecanoyl-N-methyl alaninate (SDMA), and polyethoxylated nonionic surfactants, C(12)E(5) and C(12)E(8), has been studied tensiometrically in pure and mixed states in an aqueous solution of 0.1 M NaCl at pH 11 to determine physicochemical properties such as critical micellar concentration (cmc), surface tension at the cmc (gamma(cmc)), maximum surface excess (Gamma(max)) and minimum area per surfactant molecule at the air/water interface (A(min)). The theories of Rosen, Rubingh, Motomura, Maeda, and Nagarajan have been applied to investigate the interaction between those surfactants at the interface and in the micellar solution, the composition of the aggregates formed, the theoretical cmc in pure and mixed states, and the structural parameters as proposed by Tanford and Israelachvili. Various thermodynamic parameters (free energy of micellization and interfacial adsorption) have been calculated with the help of regular solution theory and the pseudophase model for micellization.     

Interplay between the surface adsorption and solution-phase behavior in dialkyl chain cationic-nonionic surfactant mixtures

Neutron reflectivity, NR, and surface tension have been used to study the adsorption at the air-solution interface of mixtures of the dialkyl chain cationic surfactant dihexadecyl dimethyl ammonium bromide (DHDAB) and the nonionic surfactants monododecyl triethylene glycol (C12E3), monododecyl hexaethylene glycol (C12E6), and monododecyl dodecaethylene glycol (C12E12). The adsorption behavior of the surfactant mixtures with solution composition shows a marked departure from ideal mixing that is not consistent with current theories of nonideal mixing. For all three binary surfactant mixtures there is a critical composition below which the surface is totally dominated by the cationic surfactant. The onset of nonionic surfactant adsorption (expressed as a mole fraction of the nonionic surfactant) increases in composition as the ethylene oxide chain length of the nonionic cosurfactant increases from E3 to E12. Furthermore, the variation in the adsorption is strongly correlated with the variation in the phase behavior of the solution that is in equilibrium with the surface. The adsorbed amounts of DHDAB and the nonionic cosurfactants have been used to estimate the monomer concentration that is in equilibrium with the surface and are shown to be in reasonable qualitative agreement with the variation in the mixed critical aggregation concentration (cac).     

Variegated micelle surfaces: correlating the microstructure of mixed surfactant micelles with bulk solution properties

Electron paramagnetic resonance, viscosity, and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) measurements have been used to study the interaction of mixed anionic/nonionic surfactant micelles with the polyampholytic protein gelatin. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and the nonionic surfactant dodecylmalono-bis-N-methylglucamide (C12BNMG) were chosen as "interacting" and "noninteracting" surfactants, respectively; SDS micelles bind strongly to gelatin but C12BNMG micelles do not. Further, the two surfactants interact synergistically in the absence of the gelatin. The effects of total surfactant concentration and surfactant mole fraction have been investigated. Previous work (Griffiths et al. Langmuir 2000, 16 (26), 9983-9990) has shown that above a critical solution mole fraction, mixed micelles bind to gelatin. This critical mole fraction corresponds to a micelle surface that has no displaceable water (Griffiths et al. J. Phys. Chem. B 2001, 105 (31), 7465). On binding of the mixed micelle, the bulk solution viscosity increases, with the viscosity-surfactant concentration behavior being strongly dependent on the solution surfactant mole fraction. The viscosity at a stoichiometry of approximately one micelle per gelatin molecule observed in SDS-rich mixtures scales with the surface area of the micelle occupied by the interacting surfactant, SDS. Below the critical solution mole fraction, there is no significant increase in viscosity with increasing surfactant concentration. Further, the SANS behavior of the gelatin/mixed surfactant systems below the critical micelle mole fraction can be described as a simple summation of those arising from the separate gelatin and binary mixed surfactant micelles. By contrast, for systems above the critical micelle mole fraction, the SANS data cannot be described by such a simple approach. No signature from any unperturbed gelatin could be detected in the gelatin/mixed surfactant system. The gelatin scattering is very similar in form to the surfactant scattering, confirming the widely accepted picture that the polymer "wraps" around the micelle surface. The gelatin scattering in the presence of deuterated surfactants is insensitive to the micelle composition provided the composition is above the critical value, suggesting that the viscosity enhancement observed arises from the number and strength of the micelle-polymer contact points rather than the gelatin conformation per se.     

Synergism and foaming properties in mixed nonionic/fatty acid soap surfactant systems

The synergism and foaming behavior of a mixed surfactant system consisting of a nonionic surfactant (polyethoxylated alkyl ether C(n)E(m)) and a fatty acid soap (sodium oleate) were studied. The micellar interaction parameter (the beta-parameter) was determined from the cmc following the approach of Rubingh's regular solution theory. For both the C(12)E(6)/sodium oleate and the C(14)E(6)/sodium oleate mixtures, the results indicate a fairly strong attractive interaction (negative beta-values), which were in agreement with previous data reported for other nonionic/anionic surfactant systems. The characteristics of the foam produced from the surfactants were evaluated using a glass column equipped with a series of electrodes measuring the conductance of the foam, which enabled the water content of the foam to be determined. From these measurements, since the total foam volume was almost the same for all concentrations and surfactants, we compared the amount of liquid in the foam produced under dynamic foaming and the ability of the foam to entrain the liquid after the airflow was switched-off (static foam stability). The amount of liquid in the foam 100 s after the air was switched-off followed the order NaOl > C(12)E(6) > C(14)E(6). Also, the mixtures had the same foam volumes as the pure surfactants at the same concentration. However, both mixtures had higher concentrations of liquid in the foam when the mole fraction of the nonionic surfactant in the mixed surfactant system was greater than about >0.3 in the solution.     

Effect of surfactant type on surfactant-maltodextrin interactions: isothermal titration calorimetry, surface tensiometry, and ultrasonic velocimetry study

Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), surface tensiometry, and ultrasonic velocimetry were used to characterize surfactant-maltodextrin interactions in buffer solutions (pH 7.0, 10 mM NaCl, 20 mM Trizma base, 30.0 degrees C). Experiments were carried out using three surfactants with similar nonpolar tail groups (C12) but different charged headgroups: anionic (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS), cationic (dodecyl trimethylammonium bromide, DTAB), and nonionic (polyoxyethylene 23 lauryl ether, Brij35). All three surfactants bound to maltodextrin, with the binding characteristics depending on whether the surfactant headgroup was ionic or nonionic. The amounts of surfactant bound to 0.5% w/v maltodextrin (DE 5) at saturation were < 0.3 mM Brij35, approximately 1-1.6 mM SDS, and approximately 1.5 mM DTAB. ITC measurements indicated that surfactant binding to maltodextrin was exothermic. Surface tension measurements indicated that the DTAB-maltodextrin complex was more surface active than DTAB alone but that SDS- and Brij35- maltodextrin complexes were less surface active than the surfactants alone.     

Bending elasticity of charged surfactant layers: the effect of mixing

Expressions have been derived from which the spontaneous curvature (H(0)), bending rigidity (k(c)), and saddle-splay constant (k(c)) of mixed monolayers and bilayers may be calculated from molecular and solution properties as well as experimentally available quantities such as the macroscopic hydrophobic-hydrophilic interfacial tension. Three different cases of binary surfactant mixtures have been treated in detail: (i) mixtures of an ionic and a nonionic surfactant, (ii) mixtures of two oppositely charged surfactants, and (iii) mixtures of two ionic surfactants with identical headgroups but different tail volumes. It is demonstrated that k(c)H(0), k(c), and k(c) for mixtures of surfactants with flexible tails may be subdivided into one contribution that is due to bending properties of an infinitely thin surface as calculated from the Poisson-Boltzmann mean field theory and one contribution appearing as a result of the surfactant film having a finite thickness with the surface of charge located somewhat outside the hydrophobic-hydrophilic interface. As a matter of fact, the picture becomes completely different as finite layer thickness effects are taken into account, and as a result, the spontaneous curvature is extensively lowered whereas the bending rigidity is raised. Furthermore, an additional contribution to k(c) is present for surfactant mixtures but is absent for k(c)H(0) and k(c). This contribution appears as a consequence of the minimization of the free energy with respect to the composition of a surfactant layer that is open in the thermodynamic sense and must always be negative (i.e., k(c) is generally found to be brought down by the process of mixing two or more surfactants). The magnitude of the reduction of k(c) increases with increasing asymmetry between two surfactants with respect to headgroup charge number and tail volume. As a consequence, the bending rigidity assumes the lowest values for layers formed in mixtures of two oppositely charged surfactants, and k(c) is further reduced in anionic/cationic surfactant mixtures where the surfactant in excess has the smaller tail volume. Likewise, the reduction of k(c) is enhanced in mixtures of an ionic and a nonionic surfactant where the ionic surfactant has the smaller tail. The effective bilayer bending constant (k(bi)) is also found to be reduced by mixing, and as a result, k(bi) is seen to go through a minimum at some intermediate composition. The reduction of k(bi) is expected to be most pronounced in mixtures of two oppositely charged surfactants where the surfactant in excess has the smaller tail in agreement with experimental observations.     

Study of mixtures of n-dodecyl-beta-D-maltoside with anionic, cationic, and nonionic surfactant in aqueous solutions using surface tension and fluorescence techniques

Surfactants of practical interest are invariably mixtures of different types. In this study, mixtures of sugar-based n-dodecyl-beta-D-maltoside with cationic dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide, anionic sodium dodecylsulfate, and nonionic pentaethyleneglycol monododecyl ether in solution, with and without supporting electrolyte, have been studied using surface tension and fluorescence spectroscopic techniques. Interaction parameters and mole fraction of components in mixed micelles were calculated using regular solution theory. The magnitude of interactions between n-dodecyl-beta-D-maltoside and other surfactants followed the order anionic/nonionic > cationic/nonionic > nonionic/nonionic mixtures. Since all surfactants have the same hydrophobic groups, strengths of interactions are attributed to the structures of hydrophilic headgroups. Electrolyte reduced synergism between n-dodecyl-beta-D-maltoside and ionic surfactant due to charge neutralization. Industrial sugar-based surfactant, dodecyl polyglucoside, yielded results similar to that with dodecyl maltoside, implying that tested commercial alkyl polyglucosides are similar to the pure laboratory samples in synergistic interactions with other surfactants. Fluorescence study not only supported the cmc results using tensiometry, but showed that interfaces of all the above mixed micelle/solution interfaces are mildly hydrophobic. Based on these results, an attempt is made to discover the nature of interactions to be a combination of intermolecular potential energies and free energy due to packing of surfactant molecules in micelles.     

Aggregation behavior in mixed system of double-chained anionic surfactant with single-chained nonionic surfactant in aqueous solution

The aggregation behavior of mixed systems of sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT) or sodium bis(4-phenylbutyl) sulfosuccinate (SBPBS) with nonionic surfactant pentaethylene glycol mono-n-dodecyl ether (C12E5) have been studied by means of steady-state fluorescence, electrical conductivity, dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, electrophoretic light scattering and pyrene solubilization measurements. The critical concentrations for aggregation, micropolarity, mobility, solubilization capacity and morphology of aggregates are characterized. Two critical concentrations for aggregation are observed in the mixed surfactants, which may correspond to the formation of different kinds of aggregates. Moreover, it is more favorable for AOT-C12E5 to form mixed vesicles compared to SBPBS-C12E5 at higher mole fraction of C12E5. In addition, it is revealed that SBPBS-C12E5 mixture has larger solubilization capacity for pyrene than AOT-C12E5 system.     

Critical evaluation of micellization behavior of nonionic surfactant MEGA 10 in comparison with ionic surfactant tetradecyltriphenylphosphonium bromide studied by microcalorimetric method in aqueous medium

The micellization behavior of MEGA 10 has been studied at nine different temperatures by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), and thermodynamics of the process have been evaluated and examined in detail. The aggregation number of the nonionic surfactant has been estimated from the ITC results by a simulation procedure based on the mass action principle of micellization of the surfactant. The cmc of MEGA 10 has shown a minimum in temperature dependence as observed for ionic surfactants. For a comparison, the cmc and related thermodynamic parameters of an ionic surfactant, tetradecyltriphenylphosphonium bromide (C(14)TPB) studied at several temperatures in aqueous medium has been considered. The contributions of the headgroups of both the surfactants to the free energies of their respective micellization have been deciphered and presented.     

The role of the surfactant head group in the emulsification process: binary (nonionic-ionic) surfactant mixtures

Dilute emulsions of dodecane in water were prepared under constant flow rate conditions with binary surfactant systems. The droplet size distribution was measured as a function of the mixed surfactant composition in solution. The systems studied were (a) the mixture of anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) with nonionic hexa(ethyleneglycol) mono n-dodecylether (C12E6) and (b) the mixture of cationic dodecyl pyridinium chloride (DPC) with C12E6. At a constant concentration of SDS or DPC surfactant in solution (below the CMC) the mean emulsion droplet size decreases with the increase in the amount of C12E6 added to the solution. However, a sharp break of this droplet size occurs at a critical concentration and beyond this point the mean droplet size did not significantly change upon further increase of the C12E6. This point was found to corresponded to the CMC of the mixed surfactant systems (as previously determined from microcalorimetry measurements) and this result suggested the mixed adsorption layer on the emulsion droplet was similar to the surfactant composition on the mixed micelles. The emulsion droplet size as a function of composition at the interface was also studied. The mean emulsion droplet size in SDS-C12E6 solution was found to be lower than that in DPC-C12E6 system at the equivalent mole fraction of ionic surfactant at interface. This was explained by the stronger interactions between sulphate and polyoxyethylene head groups at the interface, which facilitate the droplet break-up. Counterion binding parameter (beta) was also determined from zeta-potential of dodecane droplets under the same conditions and it was found that (beta) was independent of the type of the head group and the mole fraction of ionic surfactant at interface.     

Self-consistent field modeling of adsorption from polymer/surfactant mixtures

We report on the development of a self-consistent field model that describes the competitive adsorption of nonionic alkyl-(ethylene oxide) surfactants and nonionic polymer poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) from aqueous solutions onto silica. The model explicitly describes the response to the pH and the ionic strength. On an inorganic oxide surface such as silica, the dissociation of the surface depends on the pH. However, salt ions can screen charges on the surface, and hence, the number of dissociated groups also depends on the ionic strength. Furthermore, the solvent quality for the EO groups is a function of the ionic strength. Using our model, we can compute bulk parameters such as the average size of the polymer coil and the surfactant CMC. We can make predictions on the adsorption behavior of either polymers or surfactants, and we have made adsorption isotherms, i.e., calculated the relationship between the surface excess and its corresponding bulk concentration. When we add both polymer and surfactant to our mixture, we can find a surfactant concentration (or, more precisely, a surfactant chemical potential) below which only the polymer will adsorb and above which only the surfactant will adsorb. The corresponding surfactant concentration is called the CSAC. In a first-order approximation, the surfactant chemical potential has the CMC as its upper bound. We can find conditions for which CMC < CSAC . This implies that the chemical potential that the surfactant needs to adsorb is higher than its maximum chemical potential, and hence, the surfactant will not adsorb. One of the main goals of our model is to understand the experimental data from one of our previous articles. We managed to explain most, but unfortunately not all, of the experimental trends. At the end of the article we discuss the possibilities for improving the model.     

Spectrophotometric studies of anionic dye-cationic surfactant interactions in mixture of cationic and nonionic surfactants

The interaction between an anionic dye C.I. Reactive Orange 16 (RO16) and a cationic surfactant dodecylpyridinium chloride (DPC) in mixtures of DPC and nonionic surfactants poly(oxyethylene)ethers (C(m)POE(n); m = 12, 16 and 18, n = 4, 10 and 23) are investigated spectrophotometrically in a certain micellar concentration range. The spectrophotometric measurements of dye-surfactant systems are carried out as function of mole fraction of surfactant at four different temperatures. For this reason, a typical system was occurred at 1.0 x 10(-2) mol l(-1) for surfactants and at 1.0 x 10(-4) mol l(-1) for dye concentrations. The formation of DPC-RO16 complex in the C(m)POE(n) solutions of different mole fractions in its micellar concentration range have been determined and compared to those obtained in the binary mixtures. From the spectrophotometric measurements has been observed that the addition of nonionic surfactant in to the mixture of DPC-RO16, causes a significant increase of the value of absorbance. This increase explains that the stability of DPC-RO16 complex is reduced in the presence of nonionic surfactant micelles. It can be seen from results; in mixed surfactant solutions, there are DPC-C(m)POE(n) and RO16-C(m)POE(n) interactions in addition to DPC-RO16 interaction. Since the solubilizaton of the DPC-RO16 complex has been appeared in the C(m)POE(n) solution, our results support the conclusion that adding C(m)POE(n) influences the hydrophobic-hydrophilic balance of the studied complex. Furthermore effect of the alkyl chain length and the number of poly(oxyethylene) in nonionic surfactant on values of absorbance have been investigated.     

Micelles in mixtures of sodium dodecyl sulfate and a bolaform surfactant

Mixtures composed of water, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and a bolaform surfactant with two aza-crown ethers as polar headgroups (termed Bola C-16) were investigated by modulating the mole ratios between the components. The two surfactants have ionic and nonionic, but ionizable, headgroups, respectively. The ionization is due to the complexation of alkali ions by the aza-crown ether unit(s). Structural, thermodynamic, and transport properties of the above mixtures were investigated. Results from surface tension, translational self-diffusion, and small angle neutron scattering (SANS) are reported and discussed. Interactions between the two surfactants to form mixed micelles result in a combination of electrostatic and hydrophobic contributions. These effects are reflected in the size and shape of the aggregates as well as in transport properties. The translational diffusion of the components in mixed micelles, in particular, depends on the Bola C-16/SDS mole ratio. Nonideality of mixing of the two components was inferred from the dependence of the critical micelle concentration, cmc, on the mole fraction of Bola C-16. This behavior is also reflected in surface adsorption and in the area per polar headgroup at the air-water interface. SANS data analysis for the pure components gives results in good agreement with previous findings. An analysis of data relative to mixed systems allows us to compute some structural parameters of the mixed aggregates. The dependence of aggregation numbers, nu(T), on the Bola C-16/SDS mole ratio displays a maximum that depends on the overall surfactant content and is rationalized in terms of the nonideality of mixing. Aggregates grow perpendicularly to the major rotation axis, as formerly observed in the Bola C-16 system, and become progressively ellipsoidal in shape.     

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.     

Properties of mixed micelles of cationic gemini surfactants and nonionic surfactant triton X-100: effects of the surfactant composition and the spacer length

The mixed micelles of cationic gemini surfactants C12C(S)C12Br2 (S=3, 6, and 12) with the nonionic surfactant Triton X-100 (TX100) have been studied by steady-state fluorescence, time-resolved fluorescence quenching, electrophoretic light scattering, and electron spin resonance. Both the surfactant composition and the spacer length are found to influence the properties of mixed micelles markedly. The total aggregation number of alkyl chains per micelle (N(T)) goes through a minimum at X(TX100)=0.8. Meanwhile, the micropolarity of the mixed micelles decreases with increasing X(TX100), while the microviscosity increases. The presence of minimum in N(T) is explained in terms of the competition of the reduction of electrostatic repulsion between headgroups of cationic gemini surfactant with the enhancement of steric repulsion between hydrophilic headgroups of TX100 caused by the addition of TX100. The variations of micropolarity and microviscosity indicate that the incorporation of TX100 to the gemini surfactants leads to a more compact and hydrophobic micellar structure. Moreover, for the C12C3C12Br2/TX100 mixed micelle containing C12C3C12Br2 with a shorter spacer, the more pronounced decrease of N(T) at X(TX100) lower than 0.8 may be attributed to the larger steric repulsion between headgroups of TX100. Meanwhile, the increase of microviscosity and the decrease of micropolarity are more marked for the C12C12C12Br2/TX100 mixed micelle, owing to the looped conformation of the longer spacer of C12C12C12Br2.