Multiporous hollow polymer particles

Hollow particles with interconnected cavities have been prepared by a simple modified suspension polymerization of acrylate monomers in the incorporation of a phase inversion process and polymerizable emulsifier. The morphology of particles has been characterized by scanning electron micrographs (SEMs). Based on observations made using an optical microscope equipped with a digital camera and SEM images of particles obtained under different conditions, the formation mechanisms for multiporous hollow particles are discussed.     

Investigation of a liquid-liquid extraction system based on non-ionic surfactant-salt-H2O and mechanism of drug extraction

Based on the investigation of a non-ionic surfactant-salt-H₂O liquid-liquid extraction system, general rules concerning salt selection are concluded and the mechanism of phase separation is explained. The extraction behavior of chlorpromazine hydrochloride (CPZ) and procaine hydrochloride (PCN) in such a system is studied. Research shows that the extraction efficiency of CPZ can amount to 96% by twice extraction, which means that quantitative extraction is realized, while that of PCN is 77%. This system produces distribution coefficients (K_D) of 12.3 and 2.6, respectively, for CPZ and PCN. Extraction mechanism is deduced according to ultraviolet absorbance; and molecular fluorescence spectra change of the drugs in the system studied.     

X-ray investigation of the role of the mixed emulsifier in the structure formation in o/w creams

The aim of this research work was to clarify the role of the mixed emulsifier in the structure formation and water binding mode in the case of o/w creams prepared with different surfactants. The swelling behavior of mixed emulsifiers was examined by means of direct investigation methods such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction. The detailed structure image of the creams was created with the help of the latter. The influence of the structure of the hydrophilic gel phase, and the structural changes during storage were studied with rheological methods. On the basis of the results, it can be stated that the investigated creams had different structures from those mentioned in the literature: surfactant did not create a mixed bilayer with the structure to furnish fatty amphiphile; instead, micelles were formed. These results correlated well with the results of the rheological tests.     

Small-angle neutron-scattering study of concentrated nonionic-amphiphile solutions

The structure of aqueous solutions of two polyoxyethylene non-ionic amphiphiles, C₁₀E₅ and C₈E₄, is studied by small-angle neutron-scattering along isothermal paths crossing the isotropic single-phase region from 0% to 100% amphiphile volume fractions. The scattered intensityI(k) shows a peak at a valuek _m , which grows monotonically as the amphiphile volume fraction increases. The interpretation of the scattering data lead to the following conclusion: as increases the micellar structure becomes less and less sharp, but some orientational correlations between neighboring amphiphile molecules are preserved even in the pure amphiphile phase.     

Influence of nonionic emulsifier included inside carboxylated polymer particles on the formation of multihollow structure by the alkali/cooling method

The influence of nonionic emulsifier, included inside styrene-methacrylic acid copolymer [P(S-MAA)] particles during emulsion copolymerization, on the formation of multihollow structure inside the particles via the alkali/cooling method (proposed by the authors) was examined in comparison to emulsifier-free particles. It was clarified that the nonionic emulsifier included inside the P(S-MAA) particles eased the formation of multihollow structure.Part CCL of the series studies on suspension and emulsion     

Micelle formation of ethoxylated nonyl-phenols in aqueous solutions

The micelle formation of nonyl-phenols with various numbers of ethoxy groups (n _EO=10–40) was investigated in aqueous solutions and the study was focussed on the effect of temperature (293–323 K), the chain length and the inorganic electrolyte (NaCl) on the critical micelle concentration (c.m.c).The c.m.c. was determined by surface tension and interfacial tension measurements in a water/n-octane system. On the basis of the actual c.m.c. and its temperature dependence the thermodynamic functions of micelle formation (H° _m,S°_m,G°_m) were also calculated. The latter study comprised the determination of the thermodynamic function for unity ethoxy groups ((Y° _m)) as a function ofn _EO.According to the experimental results the micellar solutions are the more stable, the smaller the number of ethoxy groups in the tenside molecule and the higher the temperature as well as the electrolyte content of the system.     

Mixtures of branched non-ionic oligo-oxyethylene surfactants in aqueous solutions — the effect of molecular geometry on LC phase behaviour 4

The LC phase behavior of ternary mixtures of the two corresponding branched non-ionic surfactants 1,3-bis-(methoxy-tetraoxyethylene)-2-propoxy-tetradecane (Y-surfactant) and 1,3-bis-(heptyloxy)-2-propoxyoctaoxyethylene mono-methyl ether (V-surfactant) and water were studied by polarizing microscopy. The two branched surfactants, which have different molecular geometries but nearly the same hydrophilic-lipophilic volume ratio, exhibit extremely different phase behavior in binary surfactant/water systems. For the ternary mixtures of Y- and V-surfactant and water we found-according to established packing models-a continuous stabilization of the cubic and hexagonal phases and a destabilization of the lamellar phase with increasing amount of Y-surfactant. On the other hand, we observed a thermal stabilization of the lamellar phase. The maximal transition temperatures of the lamellar phase pass a maximum with increasing amount of Y-surfactant.     

Liquid-liquid Extraction System Based on Non-ionic Surfactant-salt-H_2O and Mechanism of Drug Extraction

The utilization of solid-liquid extraction system based on polymer-(NH4)2SO4 -H2O on separation of metal ions and bio-active substances has been summarized1. Cloud point extraction (CPE) benefits the environment and has been used in separation of metal chelates, biomacromolecules and in pretreatment of environmental samples2-4. In a 10 mL color comparison tube 20% PEG-1000 and 2.5 g (NH4)2SO4 were chosen as phase separation condition at pH 5.5. The average extraction efficiencies we…     

Interactions between synthetic and indigenous naphthenic acids and divalent cations across oil–water interfaces: effects of addition of oil-soluble non-ionic surfactants

Interactions between naphthenic acids and divalent metal cations across model oil–alkaline water interfaces were investigated by correlating changes in dynamic interfacial tension (IFT), to plausible reaction mechanisms. The measurements were carried out by using a CAM 200 optical instrument, which is based on the pendant drop technique. The naphthenic acids used were synthesised model compounds as well as commercial acid mixtures from crude distillation and extracted acid fractions from a North Sea crude oil. The divalent cations involved Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Sr²⁺, and Ba²⁺, which are all common in co-produced formation water and naphthenate deposits. The results show that the dynamic IFT strongly depends on naphthenic acid structure, type of divalent cation, and the concentration of the compounds as well as the pH of the aqueous phase. Introducing divalent cations to systems involving saturated naphthenic acids caused mostly a permanent lowering of the IFT. The decline in IFT is due to electrostatic attraction forces across the interface between the cations in the aqueous phase and the carboxylic-groups at the o/w interface, which cause a higher interfacial density of naphthenic acid monomers. The permanent lowering in IFT is likely due to formation of positively charged monoacid complexes, which possess high interfacial activity. On the other hand, in the case of the aromatic model compounds, the cations affected the IFT differently. This is mainly discussed in light of degree of cation hydration and steric conditions. Various oil-soluble non-ionic surfactant mixtures were also introduced to systems involving a model naphthenic acid and Ca²⁺ in order to investigate how the interfacial competition affected the local interactions. Based on the behaviour of dynamic IFT, probable inhibition mechanisms are discussed.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available for this article at     

Sterically and electrosterically stabilized emulsion polymerization. Kinetics and preparation

The principal subject discussed in the current paper is the radical polymerization in the aqueous emulsions of unsaturated monomers (styrene, alkyl (meth)acrylates, etc.) stabilized by non-ionic and ionic/non-ionic emulsifiers. The sterically and electrosterically stabilized emulsion polymerization is a classical method which allows to prepare polymer lattices with large particles and a narrow particle size distribution. In spite of the similarities between electrostatically and sterically stabilized emulsion polymerizations, there are large differences in the polymerization rate, particle size and nucleation mode due to varying solubility of emulsifiers in oil and water phases, micelle sizes and thickness of the interfacial layer at the particle surface. The well-known Smith-Ewart theory mostly applicable for ionic emulsifier, predicts that the number of particles nucleated is proportional to the concentration of emulsifier up to 0.6. The thin interfacial layer at the particle surface, the large surface area of relatively small polymer particles and high stability of small particles lead to rapid polymerization. In the sterically stabilized emulsion polymerization the reaction order is significantly above 0.6. This was ascribed to limited flocculation of polymer particles at low concentration of emulsifier, due to preferential location of emulsifier in the monomer phase. Polymerization in the large particles deviates from the zero-one approach but the pseudo-bulk kinetics can be operative. The thick interfacial layer can act as a barrier for entering radicals due to which the radical entry efficiency and also the rate of polymerization are depressed. The high oil-solubility of non-ionic emulsifier decreases the initial micellar amount of emulsifier available for particle nucleation, which induces non-stationary state polymerization. The continuous release of emulsifier from the monomer phase and dismantling of the non-micellar aggregates maintained a high level of free emulsifier for additional nucleation. In the mixed ionic/non-ionic emulsifiers, the released non-ionic emulsifier can displace the ionic emulsifier at the particle surface, which then takes part in additional nucleation. The non-stationary state polymerization can be induced by the addition of a small amount of ionic emulsifier or the incorporation of ionic groups onto the particle surface. Considering the ionic sites as no-adsorption sites, the equilibrium adsorption layer can be thought of as consisting of a uniform coverage with holes. The de-organization of the interfacial layer can be increased by interparticle interaction via extended PEO chains--a bridging flocculation mechanism. The low overall activation energy for the sterically stabilized emulsion polymerization resulted from a decreased barrier for entering radicals at high temperature and increased particle flocculation.