Unexpected adsorption behavior of nonionic surfactants from glycol solvents

Adsorption and interfacial properties of model methyl-capped nonionic surfactants C8E4OMe [C8H17O(C2H4O)4CH3] and C10E4OMe [C10H21O(C2H4O)4CH3] were studied in water and water/ethylene glycol mixtures as well as pure ethylene glycol. Critical micellar concentrations (cmc's), surface tensions, and surface excess were determined using surface tension (ST) and neutron reflection (NR) as a function of solvent type and surfactant tail length. The ST results show a strong dependence on solvent type in terms of cmc. The NR data were analyzed using a single-layer model for the adsorbed surfactant films. Surprisingly, the adsorption parameters obtained in both water and pure ethylene glycol were very similar, and variations in film thickness or area per molecule are negligible in respect of the uncertainties. Similarly, for C10E4OMe, estimates for the free energies of adsorption and micellization show only a weak solvent dependence. These results suggest that for such model nonionic surfactants dilute solution properties are dictated by solvophobicity, which is quite similar for this class of water, glycol, and water-glycol mixtures. More specifically, the nature of the adsorption layer appears to be hardly affected by the type of solvent subphase. The findings highlight the significance of solvophobicity and show that model nonionic surfactants can behave very similarly in hydrogen-bonding glycol solvents and water.     

Short haired wormlike micelles in mixed nonionic fluorocarbon surfactants

We have studied the rheological behavior of viscoelastic wormlike micellar solution in a mixed system of nonionic fluorinated surfactants, perfluoroalkyl sulfonamide ethoxylate, C(8)F(17)SO(2)N(C(3)H(7))(CH(2)CH(2)O)(n)H abbreviated as C(8)F(17)EO(n) (n=10 and 20). Above critical micelle concentration, the surfactant, C(8)F(17)EO(20) forms small spherical micelles in water and the viscosity of the solution remains constant regardless of the shear rate, i.e., the solutions exhibit Newtonian behavior. However, upon successive addition of the C(8)F(17)EO(10) the viscosity of the solution increases and at certain C(8)F(17)EO(10) concentration, shear-thinning behavior is observed indicating the formation wormlike micelles. Contrary to what is expected, there is a viscosity increase with the addition of the hydrophilic C(8)F(17)EO(20) to C(8)F(17)EO(10) aqueous solutions at certain temperature and concentration, which could be attributed to an increase in rigidity of the surfactant layer and to the shifting of micellar branching to higher temperatures. The oscillatory-shear rheological behavior of the viscoelastic solution can be described by Maxwell model at low frequency. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements confirmed the formation of small spherical micellar aggregates in the dilute aqueous C(8)F(17)EO(20) solution. The SAXS data shows the one-dimensional growth on the micellar size with increase in the C(8)F(17)EO(10) concentration. Thus, the present SAXS data supports the rheological data.     

Controlling oriented aggregation using increasing reagent concentrations and trihalo acetic acid surfactants

Zinc oxide particle growth from homogenous solutions prepared with isopropyl alcohol was monitored using in situ UV–vis spectroscopy, and results show that the rate of ZnO particle growth and the final ZnO nanoparticle size depend strongly upon the concentrations of precursors and the identity of surfactants used. In addition, particle size versus time data was fit using the coarsening model and the simultaneous oriented aggregation and coarsening model in order to evaluate the effect of changing synthetic variables on the mechanism of nanoparticle growth. In general, an increase in growth by oriented aggregation with increasing precursor concentrations was observed, a result that was consistent with results from high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) characterization. The increase in precursor concentrations resulted in an increase in the number concentration of ZnO nanoparticles, which resulted in a higher probability of particle–particle interactions and hence increased growth by oriented aggregation. Additionally, particle growth in solutions of trifluoro-, trichloro-, and tribromoacetate surfactants was studied, and growth by oriented aggregation followed the trend expected based on the number concentration of zinc oxide particles. Growth with trifluoroacetate was an exception, with growth by oriented aggregation substantially suppressed.     

Self-assembly of mixed anionic and nonionic surfactants in aqueous solution

We present the phase diagram and the microstructure of the binary surfactant mixture of AOT and C(12)E(4) in D(2)O as characterized by surface tension and small angle neutron scattering. The micellar region is considerably extended in composition and concentration compared to that observed for the pure surfactant systems, and two types of aggregates are formed. Spherical micelles are present for AOT-rich composition, whereas cylindrical micelles with a mean length between 80 and 300 ? are present in the nonionic-rich region. The size of the micelles depends on both concentration and molar ratio of the surfactant mixtures. At higher concentration, a swollen lamellar phase is formed, where electrostatic repulsions dominate over the Helfrich interaction in the mixed bilayers. At intermediate concentrations, a mixed micellar/lamellar phase exists.     

On the segregative tendency of ethoxylated surfactants in nonionic mixed micelles

The aqueous mixtures of two nonionic surfactants, pentaethyleneglycol monohexyl ether (C(6)E(5)) and hexyl dimethyl phosphine oxide (C(6)DMPO), were investigated by the pulsed-gradient stimulated-echo NMR technique. Quite unexpectedly, the results show that the mixture behavior significantly deviates from ideality. Particularly, analysis of the data indicates that, in the mixed aggregates, C(6)E(5) molecules prefer to be surrounded by other C(6)E(5) molecules, forming domains of hydrated ethoxilic chains on the micellar surface. Molecular reasons for the segregative tendency of ethoxylated surfactants and its applicative implications in formulation technology are discussed.     

Adsorption relaxation for nonionic surfactants under mixed barrier-diffusion and micellization-diffusion control

Relaxation processes of surfactant adsorption and surface tension, which are characterized by two specific relaxation times, are theoretically investigated. We are dealing with fluid interfaces and small initial deviations from equilibrium. For surfactant concentrations below the critical micellization concentration (CMC), we consider adsorption under mixed barrier-diffusion control. General analytical expressions are derived, which are convenient for both numerical computations and asymptotic analysis. Series expansions for the short- and long-time limit are derived. The results imply that the short-time asymptotics is controlled by the adsorption barrier, whereas the long-time asymptotics is always dominated by diffusion. Furthermore, for surfactant concentrations above the CMC, adsorption under mixed micellization-diffusion control is considered. Again, a general analytical expression is derived for the relaxation of surfactant adsorption and surface tension, whose long- and short-time asymptotics are deduced. The derived equations show that at the short times the relaxation is completely controlled by the diffusion, whereas the long-time asymptotics is affected by both demicellization and diffusion. The micellar effect is manifested as an exponential (rather than square-root) decay of the perturbation. The derived expressions are applied to process available experimental data for the nonionic surfactant Triton X-100 and to determine the respective demicellization rate constant.     

Clouding of nonionic surfactants

Nonionic surfactants have broad applications such as cleaning and dispersion stabilization, which frequently are hampered by strong temperature sensitivities. As manifested by clouding and decreased solubility with increasing temperature, the interaction between water and the oligo(oxyethylene) head-groups is becoming less favorable. Different aspects of surfactant self-assembly, like the critical micelle concentration, micelle size and shape, intermicellar interactions and phase separation phenomena are reviewed as well as suggested underlying causes of the temperature dependence. Furthermore, the effect of cosolutes on clouding and the behavior of related systems, non-aqueous solutions and nonionic polymers, are examined.     

Wetting effect of aqueous binary mixed solutions of cationic and nonionic surfactants

Wetting of low-energy solid surfaces (polymers, hydrophobized glass) with aqueous solutions of binary mixtures of cationic and nonionic surfactants was investigated at molar fractions of the cationic surfactant of 0.2, 0.5, and 0.8. In a narrow concentration range, the non-additive effect of wetting was observed: wetting of the solid surfaces with solutions of the mixtures is better than that would be expected from the additive behavior of the components. The magnitude of the effect depends on the surface energy of the solid substrate, total surfactant concentration in a mixture, and molar fraction of the cationic component. The wetting effect of surfactant mixtures with respect to low-energy solid surfaces can be predicted using the surface tension isotherms.     

Interactions between nonpolar surfaces in mixed solutions of cationic and nonionic surfactants

The interaction energy between hydrophobic SiO₂ particles in aqueous solutions of a cationic surfactant (dodecylpyridinium bromide, DDPB), a nonionic surfactant (Triton X-100, TX-100), and their mixed solutions was measured as a function of concentration. Synergism has been observed in mixed surfactant solutions: the surfactant concentration required for achieving the set interaction energy in the mixed solutions was lower than in the solutions of the individual surfactants. The molecular interaction parameters in surfactant mixtures were calculated using the Rosen model. Chain-chain interactions between nonionic and cationic surfactants were suggested as the main reason for the synergism.     

Ion chromatography on reversed-phase materials coated with mixed cationic and nonionic surfactants

Columns suitable for use in anion chromatography can be prepared by coating a packed reversed-phase HPLC column (C18 silica or polystyrene particles) with a cationic surfactant. The efficiency is improved dramatically by first coating the column with a nonionic surfactant and then subsequently with the cationic surfactant. The thickness of the first coated layer as well as the chemical structure of the surfactant have a major effect on the column performance. Actual separations are included to demonstrate the convenience and practical use of the coated columns. Using this approach, columns with 12,900 theoretical plates for the 15-cm column (or 86,000 plates/m) were produced, giving well shaped peaks with an average asymmetry factor of 1.09. The coated layers were found to be stable, giving retention times with an average relative standard deviation of 1.6% for 12 consecutive runs.     

Novel nonionic siloxane surfactants

A new method for ethoxylation without application of pressure is described. Butynediololigo(oxyethylene) [H(OCH₂CH₂)_n? OCH₂? C?C? CH₂O(CH₂CH₂O)_nH with n=1–16] has been prepared in the presence of an electrophilic catalyst in a specially developed reciruculating apparatus. The products have been characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopy. New nonionic silicone surfactants have been synthesized by hydrosilylation of these butynediololigo(oxyethylenes) with defined siloxanes and polysiloxanes. Protection of the hydroxyl group before hydrosilylation was not necessary. Hydrosilylation was carried out in the presence of a solvent. It has been possible to obtain surfactants with a surface tension of about 21-22 mN m^?1 and an interfacial tension of 2 mN m^?1.     

The aggregation of nonionic surfactants in the presence of poly(methacrylic acid)

The solution properties of homogeneous hexaethylene and octaethylene glycol mono(n-dodecyl) ethers, C₁₂E₆ and C₁₂E₈, respectively, and octaethylene glycol mono(n-decyl) ether, C₁₀E₈, with poly(methacrylic acid) (PMA) were investigated by dye solubilization, surface tension, fluorescence, viscosity, and pH measurements. The data were discussed regarding non-cooperative and cooperative binding of surfactant to polymer. Whereas in the interaction with poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), the critical aggregation concentrations (cac or T ₁) of these surfactants were lower than the respective critical micelle concentration (cmc), in that with the more hydrophobic PMA, T ₁’s of C₁₂E₆ and C₁₂E₈ were higher than the respective cmc, but that of C₁₀E₈ was lower than its cmc. These may be ascribed to the hydrophobic microdomains (HMD) of the PMA coil in water, probably in its inside. It is considered that some surfactants are bound first to the HMD non-cooperatively and then they are abruptly bound cooperatively at T ₁. This raises T ₁ higher than cmc when the cmc is low, and the amount bound by the HMD is relatively large and vice versa. T ₁ of C₁₂E₆ or C₁₂E₈ is the former case, and that of C₁₀E₈ is the latter. Thus, different from PAA, T ₁ for PMA + nonionic surfactant system consists of the amount of non-cooperative binding and the cac of the cooperative binding in equilibrium. Therefore, this T ₁ has a different meaning from that for PAA and should be called apparent T ₁. As the binding to the HMD is dependent on PMA concentration and cac is not, which is like in the PAA system, separation of apparent T ₁ from the HMD binding was achieved by extrapolating T ₁’s to zero PMA concentration (denoted intrinsic T ₁). This value for C₁₂E₈ was found to be lower than the respective cmc and also lower than the respective T ₁ for PAA. With increase in surfactant concentration, the pH of PMA solution rose and demonstrated a peak. This pH rise and fall may be induced by loosening of the HMD coil due to binding increase and by rearrangement of PMA + surfactant complex in high surfactant concentrations region. By raising the initial pH, the HMD were loosened; consequently, T ₁ rose a little, and at higher pH, no surfactant binding took place.     

Light scattering and electrophoretic studies of mixed micelles of ionic and nonionic surfactants

Summary Light scattering and electrophoretic studies have been made of the mixed micelles formed in the systems ofn-dodecyl nonaoxyethylene ether/sodium dodecyl sulfate (NaC₁₂S), andi-octylphenyl nonaoxyethylene ether/NaC₁₂S as a function of the mole ratio of nonionic/ionic surfactants. In the former system the micellar molecular weight increases simply with increasing nonionic content, while in the latter system it rises abruptly when the nonionic content exceeds about 50% by mole. This behaviour would be interpreted by a difference in hydrocarbon-chain attraction between these two systems. The degree of ionic dissociation, , of NaC₁₂S in the mixed micelles increases as the content of the nonionic surfactant increases. This tendency is in accordance with the previous result obtained by pNa and vapor pressure depression data. The value of is closely related to the charge density, , on the surface of the micelle; increasing with decreasing . The micellar charge for NaC₁₂S alone, estimated from electrophoretic data, is much larger than that calculated from light scattering data by using the equation derived byMysels. For this discrepancy, a plausible explanation would be made by the different surfaces of the micelle measured by these two techniques.With 1 figure and 2 tables     

Adsorption kinetics of nonionic surfactants using the drop volume method

The kinetic results obtained for the nonionic surfactantsn-octyl,n-decyl, andn-dodecyl dimethyl andn-octyl, andn-decyl diethyl phosphine oxide show purely diffusion controlled adsorption. The drop volume technique applied in a static and dynamic version proves to be useful to measure the adsorption kinetics in the form of surface tensions in function of time. Comparisons of the results obtained from both the static and the dynamic measuring procedure confirm the validity of a theory applied to interpret the kinetic data.Nomenclature a Langmuir parameter - c ₀ surfactant bulk concentration - D diffusion coefficient - surface concentration - ₀ equilibrium surface concentration - ¯ (t)/ ₀ reduced surface concentration - maximum value of - R gas law constant - surface tension - ₀ surface tension of pure water - t time - T absolute temperature     

The aqueous phase behavior of polyion-surfactant ion complex salts mixed with nonionic surfactants

The aim of this work was to study intermolecular interactions in systems containing charged polyion (polyacrylate, PA(-)), charged surfactant (C(16)TA(+)) and nonionic surfactant (C(12)E(5) or C(12)E(8)). To achieve this we have created four different phase diagrams using two different so-called complex salts, C(16)TAPA(25) and C(16)TAPA(6000), both consisting of positively charged surfactant (C(16)TA(+)) with polyacrylate (PA(-)) as counterions (no simple salt). The difference between the salts is the length of the polyion (25 or 6000 monomers). Both are insoluble in water. The results revealed that decreasing polyion length and increasing the PEO chain length of the nonionic surfactant were important factors for increasing the solubility of the complex salt. We also found that the curvature effects are quite small at low water content when gradually exchanging C(12)E(8) for either one of the complex salts while there is a gradual change in curvature for the systems containing C(12)E(5). Another interesting observation was the possibility for relatively large amounts of complex salt to be incorporated into a V(1) (Ia3d, bicontinuous) phase in the C(12)E(8)-containing systems. This gives rise to several questions regarding arrangements and dynamics of the polyion in this phase. In the dilute regime several different liquid crystalline phases can coexist with a dilute liquid phase containing the nonionic surfactant.     

Surface and solution behavior of the mixed dialkyl chain cationic and nonionic surfactants

The surface and solution behavior of the mixed dialkyl chain cationic and nonionic surfactant mixture of dihexadecyldimethylammonium bromide, DHDAB, and hexaethylene monododecyl ether, C12E6, has been investigated, using primarily the scattering techniques of small-angle neutron scattering and neutron reflectivity. Within the time scale of the measurements, the adsorption of the pure component C12E6 at the air-solution interface shows no time dependence. In contrast, the adsorption of the DHDAB/C12E6 mixture and pure DHDAB has a pronounced time dependence. The characteristic time for adsorption varies with surfactant concentration, composition, and temperature. It is approximately 2-3 h for the DHDAB/C12E6 mixture, dependent upon concentration and composition, and approximately 50 min for DHDAB. At the air-solution interface, the equilibrium composition of the adsorbed layer shows a marked departure from ideal mixing, which is dependent upon both the solution concentration and the concentration of added electrolyte. In contrast, the composition of the aggregates in the bulk solution that are in equilibrium with the surface is close to ideal mixing, as expected for solution concentrations well in excess of the critical micellar concentration. The structure of the mixed adsorbed layer has been measured and compared with the structure of the equivalent pure surfactant monolayer, and no substantial changes in structure or conformation are observed. The extreme departure from ideal mixing in the adsorption behavior of the DHDAB/C12E6 mixture is discussed in the context of the structure of the adsorbed layer, changes in the underlying solution structures, and the failure of regular solution theory to predict such behavior.     

Oxidation of self-organized nonionic surfactants

Nonionic surfactants containing a polyoxyethylene headgroup are known to slowly undergo oxidative degradation when exposed to air. The oxidation, which starts by abstraction of a hydrogen atom from a methylene group in alpha-position to an ether oxygen, is accelerated by metal ions. Silver ion mediated oxidation of a technical grade surfactant of this type, Brij 30, was investigated in two types of self-assembled systems, a water-in-oil microemulsion and a liquid crystalline phase. It was found that in both systems the longer homologues, i.e., the surfactant homologues that carry a longer polyoxyethylene chain, decompose faster than the shorter homologues. This trend was found to be more pronounced when the surfactant is present in a liquid crystal than in a microemulsion. The difference is explained in terms of differences in accessibility of the polyoxyethylene chains to the silver ions.     

The effect ofn-butyl glycol ethers on the phase diagrams of microemulsions formulated with nonionic surfactants

The effect ofn-butyl glycol ethers used as cosurfactants on the microemulsions formulated with two nonionic surfactants, hexaoxyethylene glycol monolauryl ether and sorbitan monolaurate, is presented on ternary phase diagrams. The solubilization parameters as well as isothermal invariant points (IIP) of microemulsions were correlated with the solubility parameters of cosurfactants. An optimum solubility parameter of cosurfactants was established around 9 (cal/cm³)^1/2 where both IIP and solubilization parameters are optimal for water and oil solubilization with the lowest concentration of amphiphilic compounds. The mixture of cosurfactants can be used to obtain a certain transition on the phase diagram and so to achieve certain characteristics for microemulsions, especially to tailor the solvency of the system.On leave from the University of Bucharest Department of Physical Chemistry Bdul Republicii 13 Bucharest, Romania     

On the calculation of diffusion coefficients and aggregation numbers of nonionic surfactants in micellar solutions

The calculation of the diffusion coefficients of nonionic surfactants as functions of their concentrations in micellar solutions has been analyzed within the framework of the quasi-chemical version of the law of mass action. The methods of the introduction of initial calculation parameters, calculation scheme for an ideal mixture of monomeric molecules and micelles, and corrections for varying solution viscosity have been considered. Numerical estimations have been performed using aqueous tetraoxyethylene octyl ether, pentaoxyethylene hexyl ether, and octyl-β-D-glucopyranoside solutions as examples.