Studies of Synergism/Antagonism in Sodium Alkyl Benzene Sulfonate/Methyl Oleate Model Oil Systems

Experimental studies are conducted in order to elucidate the mechanisms responsible for synergism/antagonism for lowering interfacial tension in alkyl benzene sulfonate/brine/methyl oleate model oil and alkyl benzene sulfonate/alkali/methyl oleate model oil systems. We found that different mechanisms exist in above two systems. In alkyl benzene sulfonate/brine/methyl oleate model oil systems, methyl oleate influences the partition of added surfactants between oil and aqueous phase by changing equivalent alkane carbon number (EACN) value of model oil. In alkyl benzene sulfonate/alkali/methyl oleate model oil systems, methyl oleate in oil phase has two functions: on the one hand, it influences the partition of surfactant between oil and aqueous phase; on the other hand, it directly affects IFT by displacing surfactant molecule or forming mixed film with surfactant molecule at the interface.