Polymerizable cationic gemini surfactant

A polymerizable cationic gemini surfactant, [CH(2)=C(CH(3))COO(CH(2))(11)N(+)CH(3))(2)CH(2)](2).2Br(-), 1 has been synthesized and its basic interfacial properties were investigated (in water and in the presence of 0.05 M NaBr). For comparison, the properties of monomeric surfactant corresponding to 1, CH(2)=C(CH(3))COO(CH(2))(11)N(+)(CH(3))(3).Br(-), 2, were also investigated. Parameters studied include cmc (critical micelle concentration), C(20) (required to reduce the surface tension of the solvent by 20 mN/m), gamma(cmc) (the surface tension at the cmc), Gamma(cmc) (the maximum surface excess concentration at the air/water interface), A(min) (the minimum area per surfactant molecule at the air/water interface), and cmc/C(20) ratio (a measure of the tendency to form micelles relative to adsorb at the air/water interface). For the polymerizable gemini surfactant, 1, the methacryloxy groups at the terminal of each hydrophobic group in a molecule have no contact with the air/water interface in the monolayer, whereas for the corresponding monomeric surfactant, 2, the methacryloxy group contacts at the interface forming a looped configuration like a bolaamphiphile. Polymerized micelles of the gemini surfactant are fairly small monodisperse and spherical particles with a mean diameter of 3 nm.     

Micellar properties of quillaja saponin. 2. Effect of solubilized cholesterol on solution properties

The interaction between cholesterol and the surfactant quillaja saponin has been investigated by measuring the effect of cholesterol on surface and micellar properties of quillaja saponin solutions. The aggregation properties of cholesterol in water were studied using fluorescent probe methods, with results indicating that cholesterol alone does not form micelles in aqueous solution. However, surface tension, dye solubilization, and light scattering measurements show that cholesterol and saponin mixtures do form micelles at well-defined critical micelle concentrations (cmc). The cmc for saponin solutions saturated with cholesterol was generally higher than that for saponin alone, with the extent of the increase dependent on the source — and most likely the composition — of the saponin. The addition of salt decreases the cmc values, while temperature dependence of these values is more complex. Surface adsorption studies show that cholesterol preferentially adsorbs at the air/water interface, forming a closely-packed monolayer, but that saponin can partially displace the cholesterol at high saponin concentrations. Finally, the size, intrinsic viscosity and the aggregation number of the cholesterol/saponin micelles are larger than those of saponin micelles alone, with the radius of the micelles between 20 and 40% larger at 298 K. These results indicate that cholesterol most likely solubilizes within quillaja saponin micelles, and in the process has a substantial impact on the micelle structure and the energetics of micelle formation.     

New thermodynamic/electrostatic models of adsorption and tension equilibria of aqueous ionic surfactant mixtures: application to sodium dodecyl sulfate/sodium dodecyl sulfonate systems

The nonideal adsorbed solution (NAS) theory has been formally extended to adsorption at the air/water interface from aqueous mixtures of ionic surfactants, explicitly accounting for the surface potential of the adsorbed monolayer with the Gouy-Chapman theory. This new ionic NAS (iNAS) theory is thermodynamically consistent and, when coupled to a micellization model, is valid for concentrations below and above the mixed cmc. Counterion binding is incorporated into the model using two fractional binding parameters, beta(sigma) for the adsorbed monolayer and beta(m) for the micelles. The regular solution theory is used to model the nonideal interactions within the adsorbed monolayer and within the mixed micelles. New tension data for an equimolar mixture of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and sodium dodecyl sulfonate (SDSn) at two salinities fit this model well when mixing is ideal. The total surface densities, the surface compositions, and the surface potentials for the mixed monolayers are calculated. When there is no added salt, at total surfactant concentrations below the mixed cmc, the adsorbed monolayer is enriched in SDSn, but at total concentrations at and above the mixed cmc, the adsorbed monolayer is nearly an equimolar mixture. In the presence of 100 mM NaCl, the adsorbed monolayer is nearly an equimolar mixture, independent of the total surfactant concentration.     

Dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide–disodium dodecanephosphonate mixed micelles

 The aqueous catanionic system dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB)–disodiumdodecanephosphonate (DSDP) was studied by potentiometry, conductivity, surface tension, spectrometry and dye solubilization. No precipitation of neutral salts was found in the entire range of compositions studied. Up to four transitions were detected. The first transition, at about 0.001 mol dm⁻³, was probably related to a state change in the adsorption monolayer at the air/water interface. The second, at about 0.0065 mol dm⁻³, was probably related to the formation of ion pairs. The third transition was the critical micelle concentration which was analyzed with the pseudophase separation model and regular solution theory. The interaction between DTAB and DSDP molecules in micelles was weaker than in other cationic–anionic surfactant mixed micelles. Large, probably rodlike, micelles formed at the fourth transition at higher surfactant concentration. No vesicles or lamellar liquid crystals were detected. The adsorbed monolayer at the air/water interface was also studied by means of regular solution theory. It was much richer in DTAB than the micelles and the intermicellar solution. The interaction between DTAB and DSDP molecules at the air/water interface was very low. The results were explained on the basis of steric factors. Received: 6 January 1999 Accepted in revised form: 13 April 1999     

Structural effects on surface and micellar properties of alkanediyl-alpha, omega-bis(sodium N-acyl-beta-alaninate) gemini surfactants

A study of the equilibrium surface properties (in water and in the presence of 0.01 M NaCl) of a novel series of anionic gemini surfactants, alkanediyl-alpha,omega-bis(sodium N-acyl-beta-alaninates), is described. Parameters studied include cmc (critical micelle concentration), C20 (required to reduce the surface tension of the solvent by 20 mN/m), gamma(cmc) (the surface tension at the cmc), Gamma(max) (the maximum surface excess concentration at the air/aqueous solution interface), Amin (the minimum area per surfactant molecule at the air/water interface), and the cmc/C20 ratio (a measure of the tendency to form micelles relative to adsorb at the air/water interface). The geminis with a spacer consisting of two methylene groups show premicellar self-aggregation, both in water and in 0.01 M NaCl, when the N-acyl group contains more than 12 carbon atoms; geminis with a spacer consisting of four methylene groups show no premicellar aggregation even when the N-acyl group contains 16 carbon atoms. For the acyl chain lengths where premicellar aggregation does not occur, the values of the cmc of the geminis with a two-methylene spacer are lower than those for the corresponding analogous geminis with a four-methylene spacer. The premicellar formation for the geminis with a two-methylene spacer is due to the short-chain linkage. The geminis show little or no break in their specific conductance-surfactant molar concentration plots and an increase in the pH at the cmc. This is attributed to protonation of the carboxylate group and strong Na+ release during micellization.     

The Self-Association and Mixed Micellization of an Anionic Surfactant,Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate,and a Cationic Surfactant,Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide: Conductometric,Dye Solubilization,and Surface Tension Studies

In the present study, we investigate the self-association and mixed micellization of an anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and a cationic surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). The critical micelle concentration (CMC) of SDS, CTAB, and mixed (SDS + CTAB) surfactants was measured by electrical conductivity, dye solubilization, and surface tension measurements. The surface properties (viz., C₂₀ (the surfactant concentration required to reduce the surface tension by 20 mN/m), Π_CMC (the surface pressure at the CMC), Γ_max (maximum surface excess concentration at the air/water interface), and A_min (the minimum area per surfactant molecule at the air/water interface)) of SDS, CTAB, and (SDS + CTAB) micellar/mixed micellar systems were evaluated. The thermodynamic parameters of the micellar (SDS and CTAB), and mixed micellar (SDS + CTAB) systems were evaluated.

A schematic representation of micelles and mixed micelles.     

The effect of salting out and micellization on interfacial tension

We consider a system consisting of oil and water phases with nonionic surfactant distributed between them and present a model for the effect of salt on the interfacial tension. The model accounts for the salting out of surfactant from water to oil and also for the occurrence of micelles in the aqueous phase. In addition, it is shown that salting out affects micellization in interesting ways, e.g. micelles may form as the salt concentration increases even though none are present initially and then disappear at higher concentrations. The effect of chain length and head group size (and hence of HLB) on the interfacial tension is examined for surfactants of the polyoxyethylene type. The calculated interfacial tension decreases continuously and may become negative under certain condition, indicating that the oil-water interface becomes unstable and a microemulsion forms.     

Interfacial and micellar properties of binary mixtures of surfactant and phospholipid in an aqueous medium

Mixed micelles formed by zwitterionic surfactant dimethyldodecylammniopropane sulfonate and short-chain phospholipid 1,2-diheptanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine in different proportions in an aqueous medium have been studied physicochemically at an air/water interface and in the bulk by using interfacial tension and pyrene fluorescence intensity measurements, respectively. The critical micellar concentration and free energies of micellization and of interfacial adsorption have been determined. The interfacial study reveals that a mixed monolayer is formed at the air/water interface by the adsorption of surfactant and phospholipid monomers. This has been confirmed by evaluating the interfacial parameters; the maximum surface excess, the minimum area per molecule of a surface-active compound, and the Gibbs surface excess related to surface pressure. The nonideality of mixing, expressed in the terms of the regular solution interaction parameter, #, has negative values over the whole mole fraction range. The negative # values indicate the mutual synergism between the surfactant and phospholipid monomers. The equilibrium distribution of components between micelle and monomer phases was evaluated using a theoretical treatment based on excess thermodynamics quantities evaluated by Motomura's formulation.     

Surface active inverse micelles

Surface tension of solutions of a commercial non-ionic surfactant, Laureth 4, and two hydrocarbons, decane and hexadecane, with added water, was determined using a de Nouy ring. The results showed a reduction of surface tension with added water, confirming an earlier suggestion of surface activity of inverse micelles. The surface activity is ascribed to the orientation of the hydrocarbon chains in the inverse micelle, giving a preferential location of the low surface free-energy methyl groups at the surface of the micelle. The location of the micelle at the surface was estimated from calculations of the minimum in the free energy when a solid particle was transferred across the liquid–air interface. This energy showed a distinct minimum indicating the location of the particle. However, the conditions for that minimum to occur were such that no balance of surface tension forces along the liquid surface to air could occur. The reason for that apparent discrepancy is discussed.     

Effect of counterions on surface and foaming properties of dodecyl sulfate

The influence of counterions of surfactant on interfacial properties is studied by measuring foamability, foam stability, equilibrium and dynamic surface tension, and surface viscosity. The surfactant chosen is anionic dodecyl sulfate with various counterions, Li(+), Na(+), Cs(+), and Mg(++). Surface tension measurements show a decrease in the following order: LiDS > NaDS > CsDS > Mg(DS)(2). Foamability done using shaking method shows similar order as surface tension, i.e., LiDS > NaDS > CsDS > Mg(DS)(2). This has been explained in terms of the differences in micellar stability and diffusion of monomers. This is further confirmed by our dynamic surface tension results, which show the same order as equilibrium surface tension (i.e., LiDS > NaDS > CsDS > Mg(DS)(2)) at low bubble frequencies but the order is LiDS > NaDS = Mg(DS)(2) > CsDS at high bubble frequencies. Foam stability measurements were done at concentrations below and above cmc to elucidate the role of micelles. It was found that there is no significant change in foam stability when counterions are changed for surfactant concentration values below the cmc, but at concentration above cmc the foam stability of CsDS and Mg(DS)(2) are much greater than LiDS and NaDS indicating presence of stable micelles are essential to high foam stabilities. Surface viscosity measurements correlated well with the foam stability trends and gave the following order LiDS < NaDS < CsDS < Mg(DS)(2), indicating that the molecules of CsDS and Mg(DS)(2) are tightly packed at the air/water interface.     

Synthesis and properties of cationic surfactants with tuned hydrophylicity

A series of pyridinium-based cationic surfactants has been synthesised and their amphiphilic properties have been studied by conductivity and surface tension measurements. The modification of the substitution pattern on the pyridinium ring by hydrophobic moieties (methyl vs. hydrogen and presence or not of condensed benzene ring) gave the opportunity to investigate structure–activity relationships. Characterization by conductivity and surface tension measurements shed light on the behaviour at the air/water interface and in the micellar environment. In particular, the tendency to form ion pairs at very low concentration was evidenced for all the surfactants substituted on the ring, but not for the simple pyridinium ones. The formation of ion pairs affects both the conductivity and the surface tension plots, showing that a series of steps is involved during the adsorption to the air/water surface. An attempt was made to qualify the single steps in the adsorption at the surface layer. Those steps were attributed to different chemical species (free surfactant ions or ion pairs) and to different arrangements of the surfactant. This work also represents a contribution of investigation at very low surfactant concentrations and high surface tension values.     

Interactions between nonpolar surfaces coated with the nonionic surfactant hexaoxyethylene dodecyl ether C12E6 and the origin of surface charges at the air/water interface

The interactions between nonpolar surfaces coated with the nonionic surfactant hexaoxyethylene dodecyl ether C12E6 were investigated using two techniques and three different types of surfaces. As nonpolar surfaces, the air/water interface, silanated negatively charged glass, and thiolated uncharged gold surfaces were chosen. The interactions between the air/water interfaces were measured with a thin film pressure balance in terms of disjoining pressure as a function of film thickness. The interactions between the solid/liquid interfaces were determined using a bimorph surface force apparatus. The influence of the nature of the surface on the interaction forces was investigated at surfactant concentrations below and above the cmc. The adsorption of the nonionic surfactant on the uncharged thiolated surface does not, as expected, lead to any buildup of a surface charge. On the other hand, adsorption of C12E6 on the charged silanated glass and the charged air/water interface results in a lowering of the surface charge density. The reduction of the surface charge density on the silanated glass surfaces is rationalized by changes in the dielectric permittivity around the charged silanol groups. The reason for the surface charge observed at the air/water interface as well as its decrease with increasing surfactant concentration is discussed and a new mechanism for generation of OH- ions at this particular interface is proposed.     

Molecular dynamics simulation of nanodroplet spreading enhanced by linear surfactants

We utilize molecular dynamics simulations to probe the surfactant-mediated spreading of a Lennard-Jones liquid droplet on a solid surface. The surfactants are linear hexamers that are insoluble in the liquid and reduce the surface tension of the liquid-vapor interface. We study how the interaction of the surfactant hexamers with the solid substrate influences spreading, as well as the dependence of spreading on surfactant concentration. We find that the spreading speed is strongly influenced by the attraction of the hydrophobic surfactant tail to the solid surface. When this attraction is sufficiently strong, surfactant molecules partition to the liquid-solid interface and facilitate spreading. This partitioning can lead to an inhomogeneous distribution of surfactant over the liquid-vapor interface, which could drive the Marangoni convection. We also observe that the surfactant molecules can assemble into micelles on the solid surface. The repulsion between micelles at the liquid-solid interface can lead to break-off and migration of the micelles from the liquid-solid to the gas-solid interface and spreading is facilitated in this way. Our model system contains features that are believed to underlie superspreading in experimental studies of droplet spreading.     

Surface and bulk properties of aqueous decyltrimethylammonium bromide-hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide mixed system

The aqueous mixed system decyltrimethylammonium bromide (C(10)TAB)-hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (C(16)TAB) was studied by conductivity, ion-selective electrodes, surface tension, and fluorescence spectroscopy techniques. The mixture critical micelle concentration, cmc(*), aggregation number, N( *), and micelle molar conductivity, Lambda(M)(cmc), showed that the system aggregation is strongly nonideal. Both cmc(*) and N( *) results were analyzed with two different procedures: (i) the regular solution theory on mixed micelles or Rubingh's theory, and (ii) by the determination of the partial critical micelle concentration of the amphiphile component i in the presence of a constant concentration of the other amphiphile component, cmc(i)( *). The Rubingh procedure gives micelles richer in C(16)TAB than the overall mixtures, while procedure (ii) gives micelles having the same composition as in the complete surfactant mixture (alpha(C(10)TAB). Mixed micelles are larger than pure surfactant ones, with nonspherical shape. Using a literature model, the cause of the synergistic effect seems to be a reduction of the hydrocarbon/water contact at the micelle surface when mixed micelles form. Conductivity and ion-selective electrodes indicate that highly ionized premicelles form immediately before the cmc(*). The air/solution interface is strongly nonideal and much richer in C(16)TAB than the composition in the bulk. When micelles form there is a strong desorption from the air/solution interface because micelles are energetically favored when compared with the monolayer.     

十二烷基硫酸钠对两性咪唑类离子液体表面活性剂1-磺丙基-3-十二烷基咪唑内盐界面聚集行为的影响

利用界面扩张流变技术,研究了两性咪唑类离子液体表面活性剂1-磺丙基-3-十二烷基咪唑内盐(C₁₂imSP)的界面聚集行为,探讨传统表面活性剂十二烷基硫酸钠(SDS)对C₁₂imSP界面聚集行为的影响机制。 结果表明,少量SDS的加入可以填补界面上疏松的C₁₂imSP分子间的空位,界面上形成表面活性剂混合吸附膜,界面张力显著降低;提高SDS的浓度,其分子从体相向界面层的扩散交换占优势,界面层分子逐渐达到饱和吸附,此后体系中有混合胶束形成。 体相胶束中富集的SDS分子对C₁₂imSP分子的“收纳”作用及进一步的“挽留”作用,加之C₁₂imSP分子本身相对较大的空间位阻效应导致界面上的C₁₂imSP分子一旦通过扩散作用被交换至体相,其很难再回复到表面层,即界面膜以SDS分子为主。 通过调节体系中SDS的含量,可以实现对混合体系SDS/C₁₂imSP/NaCl(0.1 mol/L)界面聚集行为的调控,进而实现对界面膜性质的调控。     

Electrolyte effect on mixed micelle and interfacial properties of binary mixtures of cationic and nonionic surfactants

In the present work, the adsorption behavior at the liquid-air interface and micellization characteristics of mixtures of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and p-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl) polyoxyethylene (TritonX-100) in aqueous media containing different concentrations of NaBr were investigated by surface tension and potentiometry measurements. From plots of surface tension (gamma) as a function of solution composition and total surfactant concentration, we determined the critical micelle concentration (CMC), minimum surface tension at the CMC (gamma(CMC)), surface excess (Gamma(max)), and mean molecular surface area (A(min)). On the basis of regular solution theory, the compositions of the adsorbed film (Z) and micelles (X(M)) were estimated, and then the interaction parameters in the micelles (beta(M)) and in the adsorbed film phase (beta(sigma)) were calculated. For all mole fraction ratios, the results showed synergistically enhanced ability to form mixed micelles as well as surface tension reduction. Furthermore beta was calculated by considering nonrandom mixing and head group size effects. It was observed that, for both the planar air/aqueous interface and micellar systems, the nonideality decreased as the amount of electrolyte in the aqueous medium was increased. This was attributed to a decrease of the surface charge density caused by increasing the concentration of bromide ions.     

Adsorption Isotherms of Cetylpyridinium Chloride with Iron III Salts at Air/Water and Silica/Water Interfaces

The interaction of iron III salts and cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) has been studied at the air/water and silica/water interfaces. The surface tension of cetylpyridinium chloride has been determined in aqueous solutions in the presence of iron III chloride and iron III nitrate at two constant pH values, namely, 3.5 and 1.2. It is shown that the surface tension of the cationic surfactant depends upon the ionic strength of the solution through the pH adjustment in the presence of the former salt but not in the presence of the latter. The effect of iron III nitrate on the surface tension of CPC is similar to that of potassium nitrate, indicating that the iron III various-hydrolyzed species do not interfere with the composition of the air/water interface. The competitive adsorption of iron III nitrate salt and the cationic surfactant at a silica/water interface was next investigated. The adsorption isotherms were determined at pH 3.5. It is shown that although the iron III ions, which were added to the silica dispersion in the presence of the cetylpyridinium ions, were strongly bound to the anionic surface sites, the surfactant ions are not salted out in the solution but remain in close vicinity of the silica surface. Conversely as the cationic surfactant is added first to the silica dispersion in the presence of the adsorbed iron III ions, the metal ions and the surfactant ions are both coadsorbed onto the silica surface. It is suggested that iron III hydrolyzed or free cations and the cationic surfactant molecules may not compete for the same adsorption sites onto the silica surface.     

Determination of the interfacial characteristics of a series of bolaamphiphilic poly(fluorooxetane) surfactants through molecular dynamics simulation

Constant surface tension (NgammaT) and constant volume (NVT) molecular dynamics simulations have been conducted on a series of bolaamphiphilic alpha,varpi-(diammonium disulfato)poly(fluorooxetane)s and on a typical "long-chain" anionic fluorosurfactant used to improve the flow-and-leveling characteristics of aqueous coatings, to compare their behavior at a water/air interface. Recent research has shown that the poly(fluorooxetane) surfactants considered in this paper could serve as an effective substitute for traditional fluorosurfactants used in flow-and-leveling applications.(1) From molecular dynamics simulation, we have determined the saturated interfacial area per surfactant, interfacial area per surfactant as a function of surface tension, density profiles, the degree of hydration for various atoms in each surfactant, the degree of counterion binding, and order parameters. Our results for saturated interfacial area per surfactant molecule are greater than what has been obtained by other researchers through parametric fitting of interfacial area from experimental surface tension data using the Davies isotherm. Possible explanations for this difference are discussed. The low interfacial areas occupied by each poly(fluorooxetane) at the water/air interface are the result of their ability to adopt a "looped" conformation, in which the carbon and oxygen backbone of each surfactant and the attached perfluoroalkyl chains are forced into the air phase. A geometrically defined penetration parameter was calculated from the density profiles, which reveals that each poly(fluorooxetane) surfactant is more effective at separating the air and water phases than the "long-chain" anionic fluorosurfactant. The degree of hydration measured for different atoms in poly(fluorooxetane) during simulation confirms that a "looped" conformation is adopted in which the surfactant backbone and the perfluoroalkyl chains are lifted away from the water surface. Calculation of order parameters revealed a much lower degree of ordering for the perfluoroalkyl side chains in each bolaamphiphile than in the "long chain" anionic fluorosurfactant. When viewed in the context of the penetration parameter analysis, the density profiles and hydration data suggest why each poly(fluorooxetane) is capable of significantly reducing surface tension when other fluorosurfactants with similarly short perfluoroalkyl moieties provide inadequate surface tension reduction for practical flow-and-leveling applications.     

Dynamic surface tension measurements with submillisecond resolution using a capillary-jet instability technique

An oscillating capillary jet method is implemented to measure surface tension of aqueous nonionic surfactant solutions as a function of surface age from the jet orifice. The experimental technique captures the evolution of jet swells and necks continuously along the jet propagation axis and is used in conjunction with an existing linear, axisymmetric, constant-property model to determine surface tension of liquids. The method is first validated using deionized water and isopropyl alcohol (constant surface tension test fluids) and a procedure is described to identify the optimum wavelength from the breakup point, which produces the smallest error in surface tension measurements. Dynamic surface tension data of concentrated aqueous Tergitol NP-8 surfactant solutions is then presented. The measurements are performed over a spatial length of approximately 1.5 wavelengths, a span corresponding to 0.6-4.2 ms time window from the jet orifice. Submillisecond surface age measurements are made possible by decreasing the jet diameter. Increased surfactant concentrations make the liquid jet more stable and allow measurements at higher surface ages. The correlation of Hua and Rosen fits well the dynamic surface tension data, which includes submillisecond surface ages. Finally, the time required for surface tension to reach equilibrium levels is estimated using a simple adsorption kinetics theory of surfactant molecules on the liquid/air interface.     

Dynamics of protein and mixed protein/surfactant adsorption layers at the water/fluid interface

The adsorption behaviour of proteins and systems mixed with surfactants of different nature is described. In the absence of surfactants the proteins mainly adsorb in a diffusion controlled manner. Due to lack of quantitative models the experimental results are discussed partly qualitatively. There are different types of interaction between proteins and surfactant molecules. These interactions lead to protein/surfactant complexes the surface activity and conformation of which are different from those of the pure protein. Complexes formed with ionic surfactants via electrostatic interaction have usually a higher surface activity, which becomes evident from the more than additive surface pressure increase. The presence of only small amounts of ionic surfactants can significantly modify the structure of adsorbed proteins. With increasing amounts of ionic surfactants, however, an opposite effect is reached as due to hydrophobic interaction and the complexes become less surface active and can be displaced from the interface due to competitive adsorption. In the presence of non-ionic surfactants the adsorption layer is mainly formed by competitive adsorption between the compounds and the only interaction is of hydrophobic nature. Such complexes are typically less surface active than the pure protein. From a certain surfactant concentration of the interface is covered almost exclusively by the non-ionic surfactant. Mixed layers of proteins and lipids formed by penetration at the water/air or by competitive adsorption at the water/chloroform interface are formed such that at a certain pressure the components start to separate. Using Brewster angle microscopy in penetration experiments of proteins into lipid monolayers this interfacial separation can be visualised. A brief comparison of the protein adsorption at the water/air and water/n-tetradecane shows that the adsorbed amount at the water/oil interface is much stronger and the change in interfacial tension much larger than at the water/air interface. Also some experimental data on the dilational elasticity of proteins at both interfaces measured by a transient relaxation technique are discussed on the basis of the derived thermodynamic model. As a fast developing field of application the use of surface tensiometry and rheometry of mixed protein/surfactant mixed layers is demonstrated as a new tool in the diagnostics of various diseases and for monitoring the progress of therapies.