Structural transformations in a water-n-octane + chloroform-sodium dodecyl sulfate-n-pentanol microemulsion

Conductivity, viscosity, and water and oil solubilization are measured, and the parameter of hydrophilic-lipophilic balance is calculated for stable water-n-octane + chloroform-n-pentanol-sodium dodecyl sulfate microemulsions (Winsor Type IV system) at a water content of 2.5–56 vol %. Domains of the most probable existence of globular and bicontinuous structures and the boundaries of the transitions between the following states of the system are determined: reverse micelles containing solubilized water, a water-in-oil microemulsion, a microemulsion with a continuous structure, an oil-in-water microemulsion, and normal micelles containing solubilized oil. Peculiarities of the bicontinuous structure of the microemulsions and the relation between parameter R of the Winsor theory and the parameter of the hydrophilic-lipophilic balance of microemulsion, which the authors have determined, are discussed.