Separation and characterization of octylphenol ethoxylate surfactants used by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography on branched fluorinated silica gel columns.

The separation and characterization of octylphenol ethoxylate surfactants were carried out by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography on branched fluorinated silica gel columns. For Triton X-100, simultaneous separation of octylphenol ethoxylate oligomers, positional isomers of octylphenyl group and butylphenol ethoxylate oligomers was achieved. These oligomers were completely separated and identified by means of MS spectra. Ethoxylated oligomers are eluted in the sequence from small to large oligomers. Fifty-five oligomers of Triton X-405 could be separated by using gradient elution. To separate octylphenol ethoxylate surfactant, non-end-capped branched fluorinated silica gel columns were superior to end-capped columns. The relationship between ln k' and methanol concentration was linear, indicating that branched fluorinated silica gel columns were operating in the reversed-phase mode. As Van 't Hoff plots of capacity factor for all oligomers gave straight lines, the equilibrium of conformation for the ethylene oxide chain might lay to one side of either zigzag or meander conformers.     

Phase behavior of water/oil/nonionic surfactants with normal distribution of the poly(ethylene oxide) chain length

The phase behavior of systems consisting of water/n-hexane/polyethoxylated nonionic surfactants with a normal distribution of ethylene oxide (EO) chain length has been investigated. The surfactants used were octylphenol ethoxylated with eight EO units and nonylphenol ethoxylated with seven and ten EO units. The oil/water weight ratio was keep constant at 1, whereas the amount of surfactant and the temperature were variables. The pseudobinary phase diagrams were used to find out the triphasic bodies on the temperature scale, the tricritical points and the effect of electrolyte on them. The presence of electrolyte and the increase in surfactant hydrophobicity promote the phase inversion.     

Ethoxylated nonionic surfactants in hydrophobic solvent: interaction with aqueous and membrane-immobilized poly(acrylic acid)

Interaction between ethoxylated nonionic surfactants and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) in aqueous solutions is well-documented in the literature. In the present study, pure ethoxylated surfactant solution in a hydrophobic solvent was permeated through a partially cross-linked PAA composite membrane to quantify the surfactant-PAA interaction in the heterogeneous system. Partitioning of the mixture of the surfactants (15-S-5) between the hydrophobic solvent and aqueous solution of PAA was also studied. The role of ethylene oxide group variation in the surfactant-PAA interaction for the heterogeneous system was established by performing experiments with pure surfactants having the same alkyl chain length but varying ethoxylate chain lengths. It was observed that the surfactants with a higher number of ethylene oxide groups per molecule exhibit stronger interaction with PAA. The literature data for adsorption of pure ethoxylated surfactants (C12E(n)) on a hydrophobic solid-water interface was correlated and compared with the data obtained in our study. It was calculated that resistance in terms of transfer of surfactant molecules from a hydrophobic solvent domain to PAA domain lowers the extent of PAA-surfactant interaction by an order of magnitude. Only 40% of available carboxyl groups were accessible for interaction with the ethoxylated nonionic surfactants due to diffusion limitations. Finally the pH sensitivity of the PAA-surfactant complex was verified by successful regeneration of the membrane on permeation of slightly alkaline water. The regeneration and reuse of membrane is especially attractive in terms of process development for nonionic surfactant separation from hydrophobic solvents.     

The Surface and Thermodynamic Properties of Ethoxylated Sodium Monoalkyl Sulfosuccinate Surfactants

A series of ethoxylated sodium monooctyl sulfosuccinates [E(n)SMOSS] and ethoxylated sodium monolauryl sulfosuccinates [E(n)SMLSS] have different units of ethylene oxide (n = 9, 14, 23) were synthesized. The surface and thermodynamic properties of these surfactants have been compared with sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate surfactant (SDOSS) as a commonly used surfactant. The surface tension measurements at 25, 35, 45, and 55°C were used to determine of the critical micelle concentration (CMC) and surface active properties of these surfactants. The effect of the ethylene oxide (EO) unit and the alkyl chain length on the surface properties for the prepared surfactants was studied. The results show that the ethoxylated sodium monoalkyl sulfosuccinates generally have lower values of CMC than that of sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate. The values of surface active parameters indicate that the ethoxylated sodium monooctyl sulfosuccinates and ethoxylated sodium monolauryl sulfosuccinates surfactants have adsorption properties better than the sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate surfactant as a resulted presence of ethylene oxide in molecules of the prepared surfactants. The thermodynamic parameters show that the (EO) unites in the chemical structure of ethoxylated sodium monoalkyl sulfosuccinate surfactants improve their micellization and adsorption properties.     

Electrokinetic characterization of polystyrene–non-ionic surfactant complexes

An experimental study on the electrophoretic mobility (μ_e) of polystyrene particles after the adsorption of non-ionic surfactants with different chain lengths is described. Two sulphate latexes with relatively low surface charge densities (3.2 and 4.8 μC cm⁻²) were used as solid substrate for the adsorption of four non-ionic surfactants, Triton X-100, Triton X-165, Triton X-305 and Triton X-405, each one with 9–10, 16, 30 and 40 molecules of ethylene oxide (EO), respectively. The electrophoretic mobility of the polystyrene–non-ionic surfactant complexes was studied versus the amount of adsorbed surfactant (Γ). The presence of non-ionic surfactant onto particles surface seems to produce a slight shifting of the slipping plane because the mobilities of the different complexes display a very small decreasing. The increase in the number of EO chains in the surfactant molecule seems to operate as a steric impediment which decreases the number of adsorbed large surfactant molecules. The electrophoretic mobilities of the latex–surfactant complexes with maximum adsorption were measured versus the pH and ionic strength of the dispersion. While the different complexes showed a similar qualitative behaviour compared with that of the bare latex against the pH, the adsorption of the surfactant reduces the typical maximum in the μ_e−log[electrolyte].     

Micellization of economically viable surfactants in CO(2)

Stability and aggregation structures of various economically viable surfactants for CO(2) are reported. The compounds are either commercially available octylphenol nonionics (Triton X-100, X-100 reduced, and X-45) or custom-made analogues of aerosol-OT (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 123 (2001) 988). These were selected to reveal the influence of chain terminal group structure, namely highly methylated t-butyl units, on solubility and aggregation in CO(2). In addition the mean ethylene oxide block length is varied for the Triton surfactants (X-100 approximately EO(10), X-45 approximately EO(8)). High-pressure small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) experiments revealed the presence of aggregates, consistent with spheroidal reverse micelles. The nonionics show a temperature and pressure dependence on solubility. These results confirm the special affinity of highly methyl-branched tails for CO(2). However, none of these systems were able to disperse significant amounts of water or brine; therefore hydrated reversed micelles or microemulsion droplets were not stabilized. Hence the utility of these cheap methyl-branched surfactants in CO(2) is limited, and so groups of greater CO(2)-philicity are needed to achieve the goal of water-hydrocarbon surfactant-CO(2) dispersions.     

Adsorption Kinetics of Some Polyethylene Glycol Octylphenyl Ethers Studied by the Fast Formed Drop Technique

The adsorption kinetics of Triton X-100 and Triton X-405 at solution/air and solution/hexane interfaces is studied by the recently developed fast formed drop technique. The dynamic interfacial tension of Triton X-100 and Triton X-405 solutions against hexane has been measured without preequilibration of the water and oil phases. It is found that the dynamic interfacial tension of Triton X-100 solutions passes through a minimum. This strange behavior is attributed to partial solubility of the surfactant in hexane. Such minima of the dynamic interfacial tension of Triton X-405 solutions have not been observed, which correlates well with the solubilities of both surfactants in hexane reported in the literature. The dynamic surface tension of solutions of both surfactants and the dynamic interfacial tension of Triton X-405 solutions are interpreted by the Ward and Tordai model for diffusion controlled adsorption. It is shown that proper interpretation of the experimental data depends on the type of isotherm used. More consistent results are obtained when the Temkin isotherm is used instead of the Langmuir isotherm. The results obtained with Triton X-100 at the solution/air interface confirm that the adsorption of this surfactant occurs under diffusion control. The adsorption of Triton X-405 at solution/air and at solution/hexane interfaces seems to occur under diffusion control at short periods of time, but under mixed (diffusion-kinetic) control at long periods of time. A hypothesis is drawn to explain this phenomenon by changes in the shape of the large hydrophilic heads of Triton X-405 molecules. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Synthesis and Evaluation of Ethoxylated Alkyl Sulfosuccinates as Oil Spill Dispersants

The surface properties particularly, Krafft point, foam stability and emulsion stability for the synthesized series of ethoxylated sodium monoalkyl (octyl-, dodecyl-, and cetyl-) sulfosuccinate surfactants were investigated comparing with those of sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate. The prepared surfactants were evaluated as oil spill dispersants using screen test method. The results show that, the ethylene oxide units in the mixed moiety surfactant system (anionic–nonionic) effect on the depression of the Krafft point. Also, the increasing of ethylene oxide units in the prepared surfactants decreases the foam ability of these surfactants. The results of emulsion stability show that, the increasing in ethylene oxide units owing to the emulsion stability decreases. The prepared surfactants show a dispersion capability at different content of ethylene oxide units (9, 14, 23, and 90) and at different concentrations. The dispersion capability for these surfactants in the sea water is better than in the fresh water. The results show that, the increase of ethylene oxide units increases the dispersion efficiency of the synthesized surfactants.     

Thermodynamics of

Formation of cobalt(II)-thiocyanato complexes in nonionic surfactant solutions of poly(ethylene oxide) type with varying poly(ethylene oxide) chain lengths of 7.5 (Triton X-114), 30 (Triton X-305), and 40 (Triton X-405) has been studied by titration spectrophotometry and calorimetry at 298 K. Data were analyzed by assuming formation of a series of ternary complexes Co(NCS)(n)Y(m)((2-n)+) (Y=surfactant) with an overall formation constant beta(nm). In all the surfactant systems examined, data obtained can be explained well in terms of formation of Co(NCS)(+) and Co(NCS)(2) in an aqueous phase (aq), and Co(NCS)(4)Y(2-) in micelles, and their formation constants, enthalpies, and entropies have been determined. The beta(41)/beta(20) ratio increases and the corresponding enthalpy becomes significantly less negative with an increasing number of ethylene oxide groups. This suggests that micelles of these nonionic surfactants have a heterogeneous inner structure consisting of ethylene oxide and octylphenyl moieties. Indeed, on the basis of molar volumes of ethylene oxide and octylphenyl groups, intrinsic thermodynamic parameters have been extracted for the reaction Co(NCS)(2)(aq)+2NCS(-)(aq)=Co(NCS)(4)Y(2-) (Delta(r)G degrees, Delta(r)H degrees, and Delta(r)S degrees ) at each moiety. The Delta(r)G degrees, Delta(r)H degrees, and Delta(r)S degrees values are -16 kJ mol(-1), -15 kJ mol(-1), and 3 J K(-1) mol(-1), respectively, for the ethylene oxide moiety, and -15 kJ mol(-1), -70 kJ mol(-1), and -183 J K(-1) mol(-1) for octylphenyl. Significantly less negative Delta(r)H degrees and Delta(r)S degrees values for ethylene oxide imply that the hydrogen-bonded network structure of water is extensively formed at the ethylene oxide moiety, and the structure is thus broken around the Co(NCS)(4)(2-) complex with weak hydrogen-bonding ability. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.     

Interaction of nonionic surfactants with copolymer microgel particles of NIPAM and acrylic acid

Binding of the nonionic surfactants Triton X-100 and Triton X-405 onto linear copolymers of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) and acrylic acid and to cross-linked microgel particles of similar composition but differing in their cross-link densities has been studied. The binding capacities vary for each of these polymeric systems, being smallest for the linear copolymer. The binding is also significantly less in all cases for the more hydrophilic surfactant, namely, Triton X-405. By comparing estimates of the pore or "cage" size within the microgel particles with the dimensions of the free micelles in solution, it is concluded that micelles of Triton X-100 form within the microgel particles more readily for the lower cross-linked microgel particles. However, micelles do not form as easily inside either microgel for Triton X-405. The swelling/deswelling behavior of each of the two microgels, in the presence of the surfactants, has been explained in terms of their relative binding behavior and how this contributes to the osmotic pressure difference inside and outside the microgel particles and also in terms of micelle "bridging" of the polymer network, causing shrinkage.     

The Effect of Different Ethoxylations for Sorbitan Monolaurate on Enhancing Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation (SSF) of Wheat Straw to Ethanol

In this paper, four nonionic surfactants with different hydrophilic–lipophilic balance (HLB) based on sorbitan monolaurate were synthesized by introducing ethylene oxide gas (n = 20, 40, 60, and 80 ethylene oxide units). The chemical structure of the prepared ethoxylated surfactants was confirmed using Fourier transform-infrared and ¹H NMR spectroscopes. The surface tension and thermodynamic properties of the prepared surfactants have been studied. The simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) process for ethanol production from microwave/alkali pretreated wheat straw has been assayed using nonionic surfactants have different ethylene oxide units. Ethanol yield was 82% and 61% for Kluyveromyces marxianus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, respectively, with the addition of 2.5 g/l of the prepared nonionic surfactant (HLB = 18.2). Results show that the production of ethanol from microwave/alkali pretreated wheat straw increased with increasing the (HLB) value of the nonionic surfactant.     

Wetting and adsorption: II. Adsorption of Triton X-100 and Triton X-305 onto carbon black from water and cyclohexane solutions

The adsorption isotherms of nonionic surfactants Triton X-100 and Triton X-305 from water and cyclohexane on carbon black have been determined at 15 and 30°C. The Langmuir-type and BET-type isotherms are obtained for adsorption of Triton X-100 and Triton X-305 from water and cyclohexane respectively. Both the contact angles of water for graphite/water/air and graphite/water/cyclohexane decrease monotonously with increasing surfactant concentration. From these results, it is proposed that the adsorption of Triton X-100 and Triton X-305 on carbon black or graphite from water is monolayer. For the adsorption from cyclohexane solutions, the ethyleneoxide group of the surfactant molecules may be adsorbed onto the polar spot at the surface of carbon black, and the hydrophobic group of adsorbed molecules may direct toward the liquid phase or attaches to the nonpolar surface region around the polar spot. As the concentration increases, the ethylene oxide groups of the adsorbed molecules can be aggregated with each other via polar interactions to form hemi-reversed micelle.     

Dynamic Interfacial Tension of Surfactant Mixtures at Liquid-Liquid Interfaces

Dynamic interfacial tensions for surfactant mixtures at liquid-liquid interfaces were obtained with a drop volume tensiometer. The surfactants tested were Triton X-100, palmitic acid, and Span 80 at both the water-hexadecane and water-mineral oil interfaces. Two-surfactant mixtures were examined with the surfactants initially dissolved in different phases to minimize bulk-phase interactions. For concentrations below the CMC, it was found that the adsorption kinetics of palmitic acid and Triton X-100 mixtures were dominated by the latter surfactant. Apparent diffusion coefficients were obtained for Triton X-100 both in the absence and in the presence of palmitic acid. These values were largely insensitive to the presence of palmitic acid. For mixtures of Span 80 and Triton X-100, the adsorption kinetics were found to be influenced significantly by both surfactants. In this case, relative changes in surfactant concentrations affected the dynamic interfacial tension of the mixed system. A previously proposed multicomponent adsorption model described the dynamic interfacial tension adequately at low concentrations of Triton X-100, when desorption could be neglected. At higher concentrations, modifications were needed to account for solubilization into the oil phase. These corrections allowed the model to describe the long time adsorption quite well. However, predicted values of short time interfacial tensions were overestimated, likely due to a synergistic interaction of the two surfactants. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.     

Investigation of the Demulsification Efficiency of Some Ethoxylated Polyalkylphenol Formaldehydes Based on Locally Obtained Materials to Resolve Water-in-Oil Emulsions

Fourteen ethoxylated polyalkylphenol formaldehyde surfactants were prepared from locally sourced raw materials. These surfactants were used as demulsifiers to resolve asphltenic crude oil emulsions. Different factors affecting demulsification efficiency such as water:oil ratios, surfactant concentration, surfactant molecular weight, ethylene oxide content, alkyl chain length, and asphaltene content were investigated. From the data obtained it was found that the demulsification efficiency increases by increasing the concentration, alkyl chain length and water content in the emulsion. Also it was found that the increase of asphaltene content in the crude oil impeded the demulsification efficiency. The effect of molecular weight was studied and it was found that the demulsification efficiency was controlled by an optimum range of molecular weight between 3640 to 3810 for the family of demulsifiers studied. Regarding the effect of ethylene oxide content in the demulsifier structure, it was found that the maximum demulsification efficiency was obtaind at 40 units ethylene oxide. The maximum demulsification efficiency was obtained by TND5 (m.wt. = 3800, eo = 40 units). With this demulsifier 100% water separation was exhibited after 35 minutes at 150 ppm demulsifier concentration and 50% w/o emulsion. The surface, interfacial tension, and hydrophilic lipophilic balance (HLB) of the invistigated demulsifers were studied. The obtained results justified that they are strongly related to the demulsification effeciency.     

Self-Assembled Supramolecular Micellar Structures Based on Non-ionic Surfactants and Cyclodextrins

The complexation between non-ionic polyethylene oxide (PEO)-based surfactants (Triton X-45, Triton X-100, polyethylene glycol-1000-monostearate, and Brij 35) and cyclodextrins is studied. It is shown that the addition of surfactant solutions to the aqueous solution of alpha, beta-, and gamma-cyclodextrins affords poorly soluble crystalline precipitates. Parameters of crystalline structure and the composition of complexes are analogues to those obtained on the basis of polyethylene oxide. Using a method of surface tension it is shown that cyclodextrins favor the increase of the value of critical micelle concentration (CMC) of surfactants. The dependence of CMC from the molar ratio cyclodextrin/surfactant permits us to determine the composition of inclusion complexes in solution. For Triton X-100 and polyethylene glycol-1000-monostearate values of stoichiometric composition of complexes in solution and in condensed phase agree well. It is shown that in the presence of beta-cyclodextrin the destruction of micelles based on Triton X-100 occurs. UV-spectroscopy is used for the investigation of the microenvironment of a phenyl group in inclusion complexes based on alpha- and beta-cyclodextrins. The interaction of gamma-cyclodextrin with PEO surfactants results in the formation of novel double-tailed surfactants. The values of CMC registered in solutions of these complexes is lower than the corresponding value of Triton X-100 and polyethylene glycol-1000-monostearate. The stoichiometric composition of complexes in solution is established from the dependence of CMC versus the gamma-cyclodextrin/surfactant ratio. The composition of the complexes in solution and condensed phase agree well. The interaction of alpha- and gamma-cyclodextrins with Brij 35 results in the formation of nonstoichiometric complexes. The investigation of the dependences of CMC of modified surfactants from temperature shows that these supramolecular structures exist at high temperatures. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.     

Adsorption kinetics of octylphenyl ethers of poly(ethylene glycol)s on the solution—air interface

We studied the dynamic surface tension of aqueous solutions of Triton X-100 and Triton X-405 by the maximum bubble pressure and the inclined plate methods in the lifetime range from 0.001 s up to 10 s. It is established that in the region of large and ultimately small surface pressure and time the adsorption follows diffusion kinetics, but in the region of intermediate values of lifetime and surface pressure both the surfactants decrease the surface tension faster than predicted by the existing diffusion theory. We offer a model that provides for the ability of poly(ethylene glycol) chains to adsorb on the water-air interface and to change the area that a molecule occupies on the surface. For this model we achieve full coincidence of the measured values and the values calculated according to the diffusion theory of the dynamic surface tension.

It is ascertained that the Triton X-405 molecule can exist in the surface layer in different states: with the poly(ethylene glycol) chain fully expanded or with it partially or fully submerged in solution. The first state is most probable at surface pressures less than 5 mN m⁻¹, and the second is probable at a pressure of about 8–10 mN m⁻¹. At pressures larger than 15–20 mN m⁻¹, the poly(ethylene glycol) chain is fully submerged in the solution. The Triton X-100 molecule can also expand its poly(ethylene glycol) chain at low pressures and fully submerges it in the solution at higher values of the surface pressure.     

Synthesis of Some Oil Spill Dispersants Based on Sorbitol Esters and Their Capability to Disperse Crude Oil on Seawater to Alleviate Its Accumulation and Environmental Impact

In this respect mono‐, di‐, and tri‐ sorbitol oleate esters [SMO, SDO, and STO] were prepared and then ethoxylated using ethylene oxide to obtain six sorbitol esters at different ethylene oxide content (e.o=5, 12, 15, 20, 35, and 45). They were tested as oil spill dispersants individually and in blends. From the obtained data, it was found that the blends are more effective than the corresponding individual surfactants. The maximum dispersion capability for the prepared surfactants was obtained at HLB range from 9 to 11 for the both individual surfactants and blends. The increase of total carbon number in the surfactant alkyl group leads to increase dispersion capability of the dispersant. The wide range of ethylene oxide content was used, but the maximum dispersion efficiency was obtained at ethylene oxide=20 in E(20)STO. Meanwhile, the dispersion capability increases when the interfacial tension decreases.     

Voltammetric determination of piroxicam in micellar media by using conventional and surfactant chemically modified carbon paste electrodes

A method for piroxicam determination based on adsorptive stripping voltammetric techniques, using conventional and chemically modified carbon paste electrodes in micellar media, is described. The employed surfactants were sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), Triton X-100, Triton X-405, Tween 80 and Brij 30. However, the purpose of this paper is, at present, to research the use of surfactants as carbon paste modifier because one of the mechanisms of hydrophobic drugs ad-accumulation on the carbon paste electrode is based on the chemical affinity. Besides, because of the water piroxicam insolubility, a special aqueous medium, such as a surfactant solution above its c.m.c. was used, this micellar media being very advantageous in relation to the use of organic or aqueous-organic media, in order to dissolve the studied drug and to remove the problems derived from the organic solvents use. In addition, a piroxicam ad-accumulation increase, on surfactant modified carbon paste electrode, with the surfactant mass incorporated into the electrode, was observed.     

Synthesis of Some Novel Nonionic Ethoxylated Surfactants Based on α-Amino Acids and Investigation of Their Surface Active Properties

Eight novel ethoxylated nonionic surfactants were prepared based on oil soluble α-amino acids. The L-phenylalanine and L-leucine were esterified and amidated with cetyl alcohol and palamitic acid, respectively; two amides and two esters of α-amino acids were obtained. The ethylene oxide was condensed with the prepared amides and esters to get three different polyethylene oxide units (40, 60, and 100) as phenylalanine derivatives. The amide and ester of α-L-leucine were ethoxylated at (60 ethylene oxides units). The analytical micro analysise, FTIR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, mass spectra were carried out to confirm the chemical structures. The surface tension of the water soluble prepared compounds was measured at 25°C, further the surface active properties were determined and calculated. Such that critical micelle concentration (CMC), surface excess (Γ_max); area per molecule (A_min), effectiveness (γ_CMC) free energy of micellization and adsorption (ΔG_mic, ΔG_ad). From the data obtained it was found that the CMC of phenylalanine esters is greater than that obtained for the amide derivatives. The Γ_max decreased as the ethylene oxide units (EO) increased. It was found also that the ΔG_ad was greater than the ΔG_mic. The obtained data and discrepancy were discussed on the light of surfactant chemical structure.     

Analysis of polyethoxylated surfactants in microemulsion-oil-water systems: Part II

Commercial ethoxylated surfactants are always a mixture of oligomers with different ethylene oxide number (EON). The different oligomers were separated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on an amino column using a mixture of polar and nonpolar mobile phases. Surfactant oil-water-systems were studied according to the unidimensional scan technique. The surfactant content in the oil, microemulsion and water phases was determined by UV spectroscopy and HPLC. The partitioning of the surfactant oligomers in the oil and water phases of a Winsor III system was determined. The effect of different salts on the surfactant partitioning is discussed.