Microfluidic flows of wormlike micellar solutions

The widespread use of wormlike micellar solutions is commonly found in household items such as cosmetic products, industrial fluids used in enhanced oil recovery and as drag reducing agents, and in biological applications such as drug delivery and biosensors. Despite their extensive use, there are still many details about the microscopic micellar structure and the mechanisms by which wormlike micelles form under flow that are not clearly understood. Microfluidic devices provide a versatile platform to study wormlike micellar solutions under various flow conditions and confined geometries. A review of recent investigations using microfluidics to study the flow of wormlike micelles is presented here with an emphasis on three different flow types: shear, elongation, and complex flow fields. In particular, we focus on the use of shear flows to study shear banding, elastic instabilities of wormlike micellar solutions in extensional flow (including stagnation and contraction flow field), and the use of contraction geometries to measure the elongational viscosity of wormlike micellar solutions. Finally, we showcase the use of complex flow fields in microfluidics to generate a stable and nanoporous flow-induced structured phase (FISP) from wormlike micellar solutions. This review shows that the influence of spatial confinement and moderate hydrodynamic forces present in the microfluidic device can give rise to a host of possibilities of microstructural rearrangements and interesting flow phenomena.     

Rheological properties of wormlike micelles formed in the sodium oleate/trisodium phosphate aqueous solution

Aqueous solution of anionic surfactant,sodium oleate（NaOA）,was studied by means of steady-state shear rheology and dynamic oscillatory technique.The system of NaOA/Na3PO4 showed high viscosity,strong viscoelasticity and good ability of countering Ca^2＋,Mg^2＋.The Maxwell model and Cole-Cole plot were applied to study the dynamic viscoelasticity of wormlike micelles.The microstructures of the wormlike micelles were characterized by FF-TEM.     

Phase behavior in mixtures of cationic and anionic surfactants in aqueous solutions

Phase behavior of cationic/anionic surfactant mixtures of the same chain length (n=10, 12 or 14) strongly depends on the molar ratio and actual concentration of the surfactants. Precipitation of catanionic surfactant and mixed micelles formation are observed over the concentration range investigated. Coacervate and liquid crystals are found to coexist in the transition region from crystalline catanionic surfactant to mixed micelles.The addition of oppositely charged surfactant diminishes the surface charge density at the mixed micelle/solution interface and enhances the apparent degree of counterion dissociation from mixed micelles. Cationic surfactants have a greater tendency to be incorporated in mixed micelles than anionic ones.     

Surface adsorption and micelle formation of aqueous solutions of polyethyleneglycol and sugar surfactants

The surface tension of aqueous solutions of tetraethyleneglycol octyl ether (C8E4) and octyl-β-d-maltopyranoside (OM) mixture was measured as a function of the total molality of surfactants and the composition of OM under atmospheric pressure at 298.15 K by drop volume technique. The results of surface tension measurements were analyzed by originally developed thermodynamic equations, then phase diagrams of adsorption and micelle formation were constructed. From the analysis of the surface tension data, it was found that the C8E4 and OM molecules interact attractively in the adsorbed film and the excess Gibbs energy of adsorption can be compared with those observed in typical cationic–nonionic surfactant systems; nevertheless, they are mixed almost ideally in the mixed micelle. Judging from a negative excess surface area calculated by differentiating the excess Gibbs energy by the surface tension, we concluded that the attraction between C8E4 and OM molecules is a short-range one originated in the hydrogen bonding between them which favors the planar configuration.     

Interaction between polyelectrolyte gels and surfactants of opposite charge

Investigations dealing with fundamental aspects of the interaction between covalently cross-linked polyelectrolyte gels and oppositely charged surfactants are reviewed. For reference, a brief summary of results from recent studies of associative phase separation in linear polyelectrolyte/surfactant mixtures is also included. It is found that great progress has been made in several sub-areas since the first reports appeared in the early 1990's. The frequently observed surfactant-induced volume transition has been studied in detail. Its relation to associative phase separation in solutions and the important role of polyion-mediated micelle–micelle attractions have been clarified. Phase separation in gels, in particular core/shell structures, has been studied in great detail. The importance of network mediated elastic forces between two phases coexisting in the same gel has been demonstrated and some of their consequences have been clarified. Hydrophobic interactions between polyion and micelle have been found to have strong effects on both binding and swelling isotherms. The effect of salt, which has been found to sometimes disfavor, sometimes promote surfactant binding, is quite well understood. The microstructure of gels in the collapsed state has been studied in great detail and is often found to be highly ordered, resembling liquid crystalline phases common to surfactant/water systems. The kinetics of surfactant binding and the associated volume change has been investigated to some extent. Progress has been made for gels displaying phase separation during the volume transition.     

Shear and extensional rheology of solutions of mixtures of poly(ethylene oxide) and anionic surfactants in ionic environments

Interactions between a high molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) in aqueous solutions were investigated by shear and extensional rheometry. Results for mixtures between PEO and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) are also presented for comparison purposes. Addition of anionic surfactants to PEO solutions above the critical aggregation concentration (CAC), at which micellar aggregates attach to the polymer chain, results in an increase in shear viscosity due to PEO coil expansion, and a strengthening of interchain interactions. In extensional flows, these interactions result in a decrease of the critical shear rate for the onset of the characteristic extension thickening of the PEO solutions that is due to transient entanglements of polymer molecules. The relaxation times associated with these transient entanglements are not directly proportional to the shear viscosity of the solutions, but rather vary more rapidly with surfactant concentration. In the presence of an electrolyte, coil contraction results in lower shear viscosities and a decrease in the extension thickening effects at surfactant concentrations just beyond the CAC. The relaxation times associated with transient entanglement reach a minimum at the same surfactant concentration as the shear viscosity, which indicates that coil contraction is responsible for the observed effects in both types of flow. However, the increase in extensional-flow entanglement relaxation times is much more abrupt than the decrease in shear viscosity. All these results point to a greater sensitivity of extensional flows on the molecular conformation of PEO/surfactant complexes.     

氧杂氟表面活性剂及其与同电性碳氢表面活性剂混合溶液的表面吸附和胶团形成

研究了四种氧杂氟表面活性及其与同电性直链碳氢表面活性剂混合体系的表面活性;考察了混合体系中的表面吸附和胶团形成现象.在吸附层中分子间有明显的互疏作用,在溶液中倾向于各自形成胶团.还讨论了反离子结合度不同对理想混合胶团的组成CMC的计算的影响,提出了一般的计算式,实验测得这些氧杂氟表面活性剂有较低的胶团反离子结合度.     

Adsorption of complexes formed by cationic starch and anionic surfactants on quartz studied by QCM-D

The adsorption of complexes of cationic starch, (CS) and a series of homologous sodium alkanoates on silica was studied with the quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) instrument. The systems were chosen so as to represent CS/surfactant ratios below and above the critical association concentrations of the surfactants but below their critical micelle concentrations. It was found that

– surfactants did not adsorb on cationic polymers that were very tightly bound to the surface;

– surfactants did adsorb on polyelectrolytes forming layers with loops and tails extending into the solution, provided the concentration of surfactant was at least around the critical association concentration (cac) of the surfactant/polymer system;

– adsorption of surfactant was promoted by increasing the surfactant chain length and by adding simple electrolyte that weakened the electrostatic polymer/surface interaction and

– multilayers were formed when the surfactant concentration in solution was well above the cac; their formation was promoted by increasing hydrophobic interactions, e.g. by increasing the surfactant chain length.

A critical and comprehensive assessment of interfacial and bulk properties of aqueous binary mixtures of anionic surfactants, sodium dodecylsulfate, and sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate

The micellization of mixed binary surfactant systems of sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) and sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS) has been studied by conductometry, tensiometry, fluorimetry, and microcalorimetry at different mole fractional compositions. The counter-ion binding of micelles, micellar aggregation number, thermodynamics of micellization, interaction of components in the mixed micelles, and their compositions therein and amphiphile packing in micelles have been examined. The adsorption features of the surfactants at the air/solution interface have also been estimated. Correlation of the results and explanations of the findings have been presented. The difference in the head groups of SDS and SDBS has manifested interesting solution and interfacial behaviors.     

Determination of the critical premicelle concentration, first critical micelle concentration and second critical micelle concentration of surfactants by resonance Rayleigh scattering method without any probe

The purpose of this work is to determine the values of critical premicelle concentration (CPMC), first critical micelle concentration (FCMC) and second critical micelle concentration (SCMC) of surfactants using a common spectrofluorophotometer by recording resonance Rayleigh scattering (RRS) signal without any probe. The plot of the RRS intensities at the maximum scattering wavelength (I(RRS)(max)) versus surfactant concentrations (c) was constructed to obtain the I(RRS)(max)-c curve. From the inflexions in I(RRS)(max)-c curve, the CPMC, FCMC and SCMC values of a surfactant can be obtained sensitively. The FCMC of some anionic, cationic and nonionic surfactants such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS), cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), Tween-20, and Tween-80 were determined by RRS method and the values are in good agreement with those obtained from conductivity and surface tension measurements and literature values. The CPMC and SCMC of SDS and CTAB were also determined by RRS method respectively and the values conform to literature values too. Furthermore, RRS method can also be used to determine the FCMC of an amphiphilic macromolecule-hemoglobin, whose structure resembles a surfactant. From the experimental results, it is concluded that RRS method can be applied to the simultaneous determination of the CPMC, FCMC and SCMC values in a sensitive, accurate and no probe way.     

Formation of surfactant and polyelectrolyte gel particles in aqueous solutions

Mixing of oppositely charged surfactants and polyelectrolytes in aqueous solutions can lead to associative phase separation, where the concentrated phase assumes the form of a viscous liquid, gel, or precipitate. This phenomenon can lead to the formation of gel-like particles whose size and polydispersity can be controlled. Here we present phase behavior and structural studies of gel-like particles formed by mixing drops of N,N,N-trimethylammonium derivatized hydroxyethyl cellulose (JR-400) polyelectrolyte solution with oppositely charged anionic and catanionic surfactant solutions composed of sodium perfluorooctanoate (FC₇) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). Gel formation apparently occurs due to the collapse of the polyelectrolyte chains upon the adsorption of surfactant. This process results in the release of simple ions and water, and yields dense gel-like beads. The diameter of these beads ranges approximately from 200 to 4000 μm. Both the effects of solution composition and the method of preparation are studied by optical and confocal microscopy, and are linked to the structure and stability of the bead. Our observations suggest that the structure of the resulting particles is governed by the solution composition and the method of preparation, while the particle stability is governed by phase behavior alone.     

Influence of alkoxyethanols on the mixed micelle formation by hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide and tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide surfactant mixtures

 The conductances of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HTAB) and tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTAB) mixtures over the entire mole fraction range of HTAB were measured in aqueous binary mixtures of ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, monoethyl ether, and monobutyl ether, and of diethylene glycol monomethyl ether and monoethyl ether containing 10–30 wt% additive in their respective binary mixtures at 30 °C. Each conductivity curve showed a single break over the whole mole fraction range of HTAB–TTAB mixtures. From the break in the conductivity curve, various micellar parameters were calculated and the results were discussed with respect to the alkoxyethanol's additive effect on the mixed micelle formation. The micellar parameters of HTAB, TTAB, and of their mixtures showed a strong dependence both on the amount as well as on the number of repeating units in the presence of ethylene glycol derivatives, whereas a significant dependence only on the amount of additive was observed in aqueous diethylene glycol derivatives. The results in the former case were attributed to the hydrophobic hydration of the mixed micelles by the ethylene glycol derivatives, which showed a large dependence on the increase in the alkyl chain length of the additive. The hydrophobic hydration was considerably reduced in the case of diethylene glycol derivatives owing to the presence of an extra ether oxygen. An evaluation of the nonideality in the HTAB–TTAB mixtures revealed that in spite of the strong hydrophobic hydration of the HTAB–TTAB mixtures by the alkoxyethanols, the mixed micelles remain almost free from the additive molecules. Received: 11 January 2000/Accepted: 14 April 2000     

The physicochemical and thermophysical properties of sodium dodecyl sulfate: The influence of p-toluene sulfonyl chloride and temperature

In the present study, we report on the interaction between a hydrotrope, p-toluene sulfonyl chloride (p-TSC), and an anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) which has been performed using electrical conductivity, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), ¹H NMR, density, dynamic viscosity, and kinematic viscosity measurements. The effect of p-TSC on the micellization of SDS in non-aqueous (ethanol) medium at various temperatures (viz., 298.15, 303.15, 308.15, 313.15, 318.15, and 323.15 K) was investigated using the electrical conductivity method. The results show that the CMC value increases as the concentration of the hydrotrope is increased. It is noteworthy that at higher concentrations of hydrotrope, the trend of micelle formation is reversed (i.e., reverse micelles are formed). The thermodynamic parameters in micellization have also been evaluated. The FTIR and ¹H NMR data reveal the physicochemical properties of the pure and mixed systems and confirm no covalent bond formation takes place. Density, dynamic viscosity, and kinematic viscosity of the pure as well as mixed systems at various temperatures were also reported.     

蛋白质在表面活性剂与高分子共组双水相体系中 的分配

高分子和正负离子表面活性剂混合物可形成一种新型双水相体系。研究蛋白质在溴化十二烷基三乙铵/十二烷基硫酸钠与聚氧乙烯(EO)-聚氧丙烯(PO)嵌段共聚物(EO~2~0PO~8~0)共组双水相体系中的分配。通过在高分子接上亲和配基,研究蛋白质在带有亲和配基高分子的双水相体系中的分配。将表面活性剂富集相稀释或加热高分子富集相,又可形成新的双水相体系,由此可进行蛋白质的多步分配。在蛋白质的分配完成之后,通过将表面活性剂富集相进一步稀释或将高分子富集相加热至高分子浊点以上可将表面活性剂和高分子与目标蛋白质分离。正负离子表面活性剂和高分子还可以循环使用。     

Thin wetting films from aqueous solutions of surfactants and phospholipid dispersions

The microscopic thin wetting film method was used to study the stability of wetting films from aqueous solution of surfactants and phospholipid dispersions on a solid surface. In the case of tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (C(14)TAB) films the experimental data for the receding contact angle, film lifetime, surface potential at the vapor/solution and solution/silica interface were used to analyze the stability of the studied films. It is shown that with increasing C(14)TAB concentration charge reversal occurs at both (vapor/solution and solution/silica) interfaces, which affects the thin-film stability. The spontaneous rupture of the thin aqueous film was interpreted in terms of the earlier proposed heterocoagulation mechanism. The presence of the mixed cationic/anionic surfactants was found to lower contact angles and suppresses the thin aqueous film rupture, thus inducing longer film lifetime, as compared to the pure amine system. In the case of mixed surfactants hetero-coagulation could arise through the formation of ionic surfactant complexes. The influence of the melting phase-transition temperature T(c) of the dimyristoylphosphatiddylcholine (DMPC) on the stability of thin films from dispersions of DMPC small unilamellar vesicles on a silica surface was studied by measuring the film lifetime and the TPC expansion rate. The stability of thin wetting films formed from dispersions of DMPC small unilamellar vesicles was investigated by the microinterferometric method. The formation of wetting films from diluted dispersions of DMPC multilamellar vesicles was studied in the temperature range 25-32 degrees C. The stability of thin film of lipid vesicles was explained on the basis of hydrophobic interactions. The results obtained show that the stability of wetting films from aqueous solutions of single cationic and mixed cationic-anionic surfactants has electrostatic origin, whereas the stability of the phospholipid film is due to hydrophobic interaction.     

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.     

Structure and conductivity of AOT solutions in n-hexadecane-chloroform mixtures

The structure and conductivity of AOT (sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate) solutions (2.5 × 10⁻⁴–2.5 × 10⁻¹ M) in n-hexadecane-chloroform mixture at the chloroform concentration from 50 to 100 vol% were studied. The diffusion ordered spectroscopy NMR study revealed that in the indicated range, the observed hydrodynamic diameter of micelles depends only on the AOT concentration and does not depend on the chloroform content. Molar fractions of free AOT molecules and those aggregated into micelles were calculated using the Lindman's law: at concentrations above 2.5 × 10⁻¹ М, the solutions contain mostly the micelles, whereas at concentrations below 2.5 × 10⁻⁴ M, the solutions contain AOT molecules. The transition region contains both the AOT molecules and the micelles. Conductivity measurements were used to determine free charge carriers in the bulk of solutions and their contributions to conductivity.     

Volumes and heat capacities of anionic-nonionic surfactant mixtures

Density, heat capacity and surface tension measurements of sodium decylsulfate (NaDeS)-dodecyldimethylamine oxide (DDAO)-water mixtures were carried out as functions of the surfactants total molality m_t at fixed stoichiometric mixture compositions X_NaDeS. From the surface tension data, the critical micelle concentration of NaDeS-DDAO mixtures as a function of X_NaDeS were obtained. From density and heat capacity data, the apparent molar volume V_,2 and heat capacity C_,2 of NaDeS-DDAO mixtures in water were calculated, respectively. At a given mole fraction, V_,2 and C_,2 monotonically increases and decreases, respectively, with increasing mt. However, anomalies were observed at X_NaDeS=0.1 and 0.3 for both V_,2 and C_,2 vs. mt curves. The nonideal contributions to the thermodynamic properties for the formation of surfactant-surfactant mixed micelles in water by mixing aqueous solutions of pure NaDeS and DDAO micelles were calculated at 0.3 mol-kg^–1 for the micellized surfactants mixture. The excess volume V^exc and heat capacity as functions of X_NaDeS are concave and S-shaped curves, respectively. All the properties are compared to those for sodium dodecylsulfate-DDAO mixture. In addition, to clarify the effect of the change in the hydrophobicity of the surfactants mixtures V^exc for the dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide-decyltrimethylammonium bromide mixture were calculated from literature data.