On mixed binary surfactant systems comprising MEGA 10 and alkyltrimethylammonium bromides: a detailed physicochemical study with a critical analysis

Self-aggregation of mixed binary nonionic and ionic surfactants comprising N-methyl-N-decanoyl glucamide (MEGA 10) and alkyltrimethylammonium bromides (C(12)-, C(14)-, and C(16)TAB) has been investigated in detail by different physical methods. The counter-ion binding, aggregation number, and polarity of the mixed micelles have been determined. The results have been analyzed in the light of the theories of Rubingh and Maeda. The thermodynamic parameters of the micellization process have been evaluated and discussed. The interfacial adsorptions of the mixed amphiphiles including their surface excesses and head-group areas have also been evaluated. Based on the head-group areas, the overall shapes of the mixed micelles have been predicted from the estimation of the amphiphile packing parameters.     

Synergism and polymorphism in mixed surfactant systems

Mixed surfactant systems have been, for a long time, one of the favorite areas for experimental studies on interfacial and bulk properties of surfactants. Beyond the well-known synergistic properties, with relevance to technical applications, recent studies increasingly focus on the bulk aggregation behavior. As more systematic and detailed experimental data is collected (for example, by use of scattering and direct imaging techniques), increasingly refined theoretical models are developed. Most references reviewed here clearly show both the trends. Topics such as micellar growth, micelle-to-vesicle transition and equilibrium vesicle formation in dilute systems (in particular in catanionic systems) continue to expand and sometimes pose challenges to conventional notions of surfactant self-organization. As the rich polymorphism of mixed aggregates is unraveled, the possibilities of using them for broader goals also increase (e.g. mesoporous materials and polymer-aggregate gels).     

Intermolecular packing of sugar-based surfactant and phenol in a micellar phase

Surfactants have been used to enhance the removal of phenol from aqueous system; therefore, the interaction between surfactants and phenol is important for selection of the surfactant and understanding the process. In this work, sugar based surfactant, n-dodecyl-beta-D-maltoside (DM), was utilized to separate phenol from aqueous solution using ultrafiltration. 2-D NMR and Cryo-TEM techniques were employed to obtain information on the orientation of phenol molecules in the micellar phase and the shape transition of the micelles. The flux was found to decrease linearly with the solute concentration and the equilibrium constant was found to be constant. 2-D NMR spectra have shown that phenol molecules reside in the palisade layer of the DM micelles with the benzene ring interacting with the hydrocarbon chain of DM molecules, especially the first methylene group. Cryo-TEM results have shown the shape transition from spherical to worm-like due to the presence of phenol. The results will help understand the interaction between surfactants and phenol and the select the optimum surfactant reagents and operational conditions for micellar enhanced ultrafiltration process.     

Interactions of mixed surfactant solution with liposome membrane

Interactions of the mixed surfactant solution of dodecylamido propyl dimethyl aminoacetate and sodium dodecyl sulfate with the liposomal membrane were studied. Lytic activities of the surfactants were measured as a function of the concentrations of surfactant and phospholipid and the composition of mixed surfactants. The solubilization limits of phospholipid by surfactants were determined from the change of their aggregation behavior in suspensions at equilibrium by means of quasi-elastic light scattering. The mixed surfactant solutions showed lower lytic activity than single component surfactant solution in spite of the strong adsorption onto the liposome surface. This was attributed to low solubilization power of binary mixture for phospholipid.     

Markov chain model of mixed surfactant systems

A new model of mixed surfactant systems have been developed in the work presented. It includes two parameters only connected directly with the Gibbs free energy of the surfactant aggregation. They can be determined using both the aggregation equilibrium constant values or the phase composition data. It has been shown also the relation between these new parameters and the same of the regular solution approximation and the alternative models. The possibility to describe the available experimental information about the micelle composition as a function of the singly dispersed surfactant mixture composition better than by the other models has been shown also.     

Rheology of wormlike micelles in aqueous systems of a mixed amino acid-based anionic surfactant and cationic surfactant

Amino acid-based anionic surfactant, N-dodecanoylglutamic acid, after neutralizing by 2, 2′, 2″-nitrilotriethanol forms micellar solution at 25 °C. Addition of cationic cosurfactants hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC), hexadecylpyridinium chloride (CPC), and hexadecylpyridinium bromide (CPB) to the semi-dilute solution of anionic surfactant micellar solutions favor the micellar growth and after a certain concentration, entangled rigid network of wormlike micelles are formed. Viscosity increases enormously ～4th order of magnitude compared with water. With further addition of the cosurfactants, viscosity declines and phase separation to liquid crystal occurs. The wormlike micelles showed a viscoelastic behavior and described by Maxwell model with a single stress-relaxation mode. The position of viscosity maximum in the zero-shear viscosity curve shifts towards lower concentration upon changing cosurfactant from CPB to CTAC via CPC; however, the maximum viscosity is highest in the CPB system showing the formation of highly rigid network structure of wormlike micelles. In all the systems, viscosity decays exponentially with temperature following Arrhenius type behavior.     

Micellar evolution in mixed nonionic/anionic surfactant systems

Surfactant mixtures are widely used in industrial applications due to their favorable synergistic interactions. For instance, anionic and nonionic mixtures are often employed in detergent, personal care, and enhanced oil recovery. It is useful to understand micellization behaviors of such mixtures, as they are important for formulation optimizations. A range of techniques including surface tensiometry, fluorescence spectroscopy, ultrafiltration, and analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC), were employed in this work to obtain information on the micellization behaviors of the mixed n-dodecyl-β-D-maltoside (DM)/sodium dodecyl sulfonate (SDSN) system. The interaction parameter, monomer concentration, and micellar size and shape distribution were obtained for this mixed surfactant system as a function of total surfactant concentration as well as mixing ratio to achieve a full understanding of their aggregation behaviors. The coexistence of two types of micelles was identified in this mixed anionic/nonionic surfactant system for the first time. A model is proposed to explain such coexistence based on the surface activities and the interactions between the two types of surfactants. These findings are useful for optimizing the composition of mixed surfactant systems and enhancing the synergetic efficiency of the system to achieve more effective and economical formulations.     

Forces between glass surfaces in mixed cationic-zwitterionic surfactant systems

We report atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements of the forces between borosilicate glass solids in aqueous mixtures of cationic and zwitterionic surfactants. These forces are used to determine the adsorption of the surfactant as a function of the separation between the interfaces (proximal adsorption) through the application of a Maxwell relation. In the absence of cationic surfactant, the zwitterionic surfactant N-dodecyl-N,N-dimethyl-3-ammonio-1-propanesulfonate (DDAPS) undergoes little adsorption to glass at concentrations up to about 2/3 critical micelle concentration (cmc). In addition, DDAPS does not have much effect on the forces over the same concentration range. In contrast, the cationic surfactant dodecylpyridinium chloride (DPC) does adsorb to glass and does affect the force between glass surfaces at concentrations much lower than the cmc. In the presence of a small amount of DPC (0.05 mM = cmc/300), the net force between the glass surfaces is quite sensitive to the solution concentration of DDAPS. A model-independent thermodynamic argument is used to show that the surface excess of DDAPS depends on the separation between the glass interfaces when the cationic surfactant is present and that the surface excess of the cationic surfactant is more sensitive to interfacial separation in the presence of the zwitterionic surfactant. The change in adsorption of the zwitterionic surfactant is explained in terms of an intermolecular coupling between the long-range electrostatic force acting on the cationic surfactant and the short-range hydrophobic interaction between the alkyl chains on the cationic and zwitterionic surfactants. The adsorptions of cationic and zwitterionic surfactants in mixtures were measured independently and simultaneously by attenuated total internal reflection infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR). The adsorption of the zwitterionic surfactant is enhanced by the presence of a small amount of cationic surfactant.     

Vesicle formation with amphiphilic chitosan derivatives and a conventional cationic surfactant in mixed systems

In this study, molecular packing in lamellar liquid crystals in poly(oxyethylene) dodecyl ether(C(12)EO(n)) pure systems and the two surfactant mixtures of C(12)EO(8)/1-dodecanol(C(12)EO(0)), C(12)EO(8)/lipophilic sucrose laurate (L-595), hydrophilic sucrose laurate (L-1695)/C(12)EO(2) is investigated in terms of mean molecular area and partial molecular area (PMA). Lamellar liquid crystals formed in the C(12)EO(8)/C(12)EO(0) mixed system show higher melting temperatures than those in the C(12)EO(n) pure systems, even though the average number of EO units in the mixed surfactant system is the same as in the pure system. We compared the mean molecular area at the interface between hydrophilic and lipophilic moieties in the lamellar liquid crystals in each system. In the mixed system, the molecules are packed more tightly than in the pure system. Among the C(12)EO(n) and sucrose laurate mixtures, the L-1695/C(12)EO(2) mixed system showed a smaller mean molecular area per lipophilic chain than the C(12)EO(8)/L-595 mixed system. We investigated the effect of mixing two surfactants with different head group geometry on molecular packing by comparing the PMA of each surfactant.     

Electrophoretic behaviour and viscosities of metal oxides in mixed surfactant systems

 The electrokinetic behavior and viscosity of anatase and alumina in mixed-surfactant solutions were investigated. Sodium dodecylsulfate and nonionic polyoxyethylene ethers were investigated as model surfactants. Pure nonionic surfactants adsorbed on anatase and coated the particles, so that the zeta potential was nearly zero near the critical micelle concentration of surfactant. At higher surfactant concentrations, an increase in the zeta potentials was observed, suggesting a change in the microstructure of the adsorbed layer. Addition of nonionic surfactant to positively charged anatase and alumina with some preadsorbed sodium dodecylsulfate reversed the surface charge of the oxide to negative, indicating enhanced coadsorption of the anionic surfactant. At higher concentrations of the nonionic surfactant, the charge reversed back to positive. Nonionic surfactants did not reverse the surface charge of these oxides in the absence of the anionic surfactant. Coenhanced adsorption of nonionic and anionic surfactants was used to stabilize alumina at the isoelectric point, where neither surfactant adsorbed appreciably on its own. These results suggest a dramatic change in conformation of the surfactant chains in mixed systems. Further explanation and justification of the proposed changes in adsorbed surfactant conformation require spectroscopic evidence. Received: 12 March 1997 Accepted: 22 July 1997     

Preparation of surfactant anion-selective electrodes with different selectivity coefficients and a trial to determine each component in binary surfactant mixtures

Functional membrane electrodes with different charge densities were prepared from partly cationic poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and a plasticizer. The modified PVC polymers were synthesized by the co-polymerization of vinyl chloride (VC) and 3-acrylamido-N,N-dimethylpropylamine (ADPA) in different ratios followed by alkylation of the amine segments with methyl iodide. These membrane electrodes showed a nearly Nernstian response to sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) below the critical micelle concentration (CMC). In mixtures of SDS and other surfactants, the electrode response was examined and the selectivity coefficient K for the added surfactant was determined. The charge density of the functional membrane altered K; the greater the charge density of the membrane, the greater the value of K. Two membrane electrodes with different K were used to determine the concentration of each component in a binary surfactant mixture. They determined the concentration of the primary surfactant with reasonable accuracy, but the error in determining the concentration of the secondary surfactant was great. The error analysis indicated that a large difference in K for two electrodes is necessary to determine the concentrations of both components in binary surfactant mixtures with reasonable accuracy.     

Polymerisation of liquid crystalline phases in binary surfactant/water systems

The self-assembly behaviour of the polymerisable surfactant -undecenyltrimethylammonium bromide (-UTAB) both before and after polymerisation has been investigated. In addition polymerisation of the liquid crystalline phases formed by this surfactant in aqueous solution has been studied. Introduction of the carbon-carbon double bond at the end of the hydrocarbon chain increases the rigidity of the paraffinic chains such that the Krafft curve is shifted to higher temperatures compared with that of dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide, a nonpolymerisable analogue. Both the polymerised and non-polymerised forms have been observed to have the same phase progression, with the polymer being more soluble in water such that the liquid crystalline phases formed at high surfactant concentration are accessible at room temperature. Polymerisation of the liquid crystalline phases of -UTAB indicate that polymerisation proceeds to approximately 40% (in comparison) with 80% in a non-aggregated form) and that the original monomeric matrix is undisturbed upon partial polymerisation.     

Polymerisation of liquid crystalline phases in binary surfactant/water systems

The binary phase behaviour of two potentially polymerisable quaternary ammonium surfactants in water has been investigated. Allyldodecyldimethylammonium bromide (ADAB) a single-chain surfactant displays a conventional phase progression upon increasing concentration. Whereas the doublechain analogue allyldidodecylmethylammonium bromide (ADDAB) forms two lamellar liquid crystalline phases built from surfactant bilayers, which transform via a first order phase transition. The formation of two distinct lamellar phases and their coexistence has been evidenced by optical microscopy, small-angle x-ray scattering and D₂O deuterium quadrupolar nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The lamellar phase formed at higher surfactant compositions is a normal lamellar phase (typeL ) consisting of bilayers which are on average parallel and flat. The lower compositional lamellar phase (typeL ) in contrast may not be comprised of planar bilayers but rather aggregates having a high degree of curvature in comparison to those of theL phase. The presence of the allyl polymerisable moiety in the head group position of these surfactants has the effect of reducing the rigidity of the surfactant and increasing its solubility in comparison to nonpolymerisable analogues. Polymerisation of the surfactants was attempted by using thermal and photochemical initiation in isotropic and self-assembled systems. Polymerisation occurred to approximately 30% for DADB but did not occur for ADDAB. Where polymerisation did occur the polymer was incorporated into the monomer matrix by interweaving between the surfactant aggregates. The polymers had a molecular wieght not greater than 8000 Daltons, independent of the monomer concentration of the original solution and type of polymerisation.     

Polymerisation of liquid crystalline phases in binary surfactant/water systems

The phase behaviour and polymerisation of a quaternary ammonium surfactant containing an ethylmethacrylate polymerisable moiety within the head group region has been investigated. The addition of this large flexible hydrophilic moiety alters significantly the inherent surface activity of the surfactant and the surfactant may be compared with the class of non-ionic polyethyleneoxide surfactants. Polymerisation of both self-assembled and non self-assembled states went to near completion with the resulting polymer being completely insoluble in water.     

Polymerisation of liquid crystalline phases in binary surfactant/water systems

The polymerisation of a polymerisable fatty acid surfactant (sodium 10-undecenoate) has been studied in both its self-assembled and non self-assembled forms. Polymerisation in non self-assembled solution was achieved to near completion. The polymerisation produces a surface active polymer. The self-assembling behaviour of this pre-polymerised form differs markedly from that observed for the monomeric surfactant [1]. A lamellar phase only is formed in the polymeric phase diagram with no hexagonal or lamellar gel phases being observed. Polymerisation in the different self-assembled forms of sodium 10-undecenoate reached a limit of approximately 30% only, i.e., the surfactant aggregates act to inhibit the polymerisation. The nature of the hydrocarbon chain was found to play a critical role in determining the effect that polymerisation had on the underlying geometry of the surfactant molecules. When the chains are in a fluid-like state (as for the micellar and hexagonal phases) the original monomeric matrix remains largely unchanged. Whereas partial polymerisation of the lamellar gel phase results in a phase transformation.In addition the hydrolysis of the fatty acid soap at low concentrations (close to the critical micelle concentration) has been investigated. Hydrolysis was shown to produce both the parent fatty acid and an acid soap dimer. The presence of these species greatly affects the solution behaviour in this region of the phase diagram shifting the critical micelle concentration to very high concentrations of sodium 10-undecenoate (ca. 0.4 M).     

Alkaline hydrolysis of brilliant green in mixed cationic surfactant systems

Kinetic measurements were performed for the alkaline hydrolysis of brilliant green — a triphenylmethane dye used as a model compound for probing micellar rate effects. This reaction was studied both in the presence of tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTAB) and tetradecyltriphenylphosphonium bromide (TTPPBr) and also in binary mixtures of these surfactants at different mole fractions of each. All rate surfactant profiles were analyzed using the pseudo-phase model in order to obtain the regression parameters, including binding constants and rate constants in the micellar pseudo-phase. The reaction was catalyzed by both surfactants. The catalytic factor increases from about 10 for pure TTPPBr to about 38 for pure TTAB. Binding of BG to micellar surface is greater in pure TTAB than in pure TTPPBr but significantly reduced in the surfactant mixtures than in pure components. Reduction of the binding constant becomes more significant as the mole fraction of TTAB is increased in the mixture. The kinetic data have been analyzed in terms of models of Piszkiewicz and Raghavan-Srinivasan which are in good agreement.      

Wormlike micelles in mixed surfactant systems: effect of cosolvents

We have studied the structure and rheological behavior of viscoelastic wormlike micellar solutions in the mixed nonionic surfactants poly(oxyethylene) cholesteryl ether (ChEO15)-trioxyethylene monododecyl ether (C12EO3) and anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-C12EO3 using a series of glycerol/water and formamide/water mixed solvents. The obtained results are compared with those reported in pure water for the corresponding mixed surfactant systems. The zero-shear viscosity first sharply increases with C12EO3 addition and then decreases; i.e., there is a viscosity maximum. The intensity (viscosity) and position (C12EO3 fraction) of this maximum shift to lower values upon an increase in the ratio of glycerol in the glycerol/water mixed solvent, while the position of the maximum changes in an opposite way with increasing formamide. In the case of the SDS/C12EO3 system, zero-shear viscosity shows a decrease with an increase of temperature, but for the ChEO15/C12EO3 system, again, the zero-shear viscosity shows a maximum if plotted as a function of temperature, its position depending on the C12EO3 mixing fraction. In the studied nonionic systems, worm micelles seem to exist at low temperatures (down to 0 degrees C) and high glycerol concentrations (up to 50 wt %), which is interesting from the viewpoint of applications such as drag reduction fluids. Rheology results are supported by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements on nonionic systems, which indicate micellar elongation upon addition of glycerol or increasing temperature and shortening upon addition of formamide. The results can be interpreted in terms of changes in the surface curvature of aggregates and lyophobicity.     

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.     

Thermodynamic studies of mixed ionic/nonionic surfactant systems

Mixtures of alkyltrimethylammonium bromide (CnTAB, n=12, 14, 16, 18) and Triton X-100 were studied at a range of mole fractions of ionic surfactant per nonionic surfactant. For each mixture, the cmc obtained from surface tension measurements differed from that obtained using potentiometry. The behavior of these mixed-surfactant systems showed three different regions with increasing total surfactant concentration. From the surface tension and potentiometry data, we obtained the free monomer concentration of ionic surfactant (mi), the micellar mole fraction of surfactant (xi), and the degree of dissociation (alpha) of ionic surfactant. We also obtained the free monomer concentration of Triton X-100 (m2) using PFG-NMR technique. A new equation was introduced to evaluate the activity coefficient in the micellar phase. The excess free energy (GE) and the synergetic parameters of mixtures were determined at various mole fractions of CnTAB/Triton X-100. Finally, the complexity of the synergism parameters was investigated.     

Solution properties of mixed surfactant systems (IV)

Electric properties of mixed anionic-nonionic surfactant systems in aqueous solutions above the CMC have been studied in terms of pNa values, electrical conductivities, and dielectric constants; these systems are sodium 3, 6, 9-trioxaicosanoate (ECL) — alkyl polyoxyethylene ethers (C_mPOE; m=12, 14, 16, and 18). The degree of ionic dissociation of mixed micelle increases with increasing the number of carbon atoms of the alkyl group in the nonionic surfactant. The electrical conductivity increases with increasing the alkyl chain length in the nonionic surfactant, in spite of the increase of the activation energy for conduction. The size of mixed micelles also increases with increasing alkyl chain length. This may be attributed to the fact that the mixed micelle is formed more easily by a nonionic surfactant including long alkyl chains than for one having shorter alkyl chains.