Study on the Interfacial Tensions Between Oils and Alkylbenzene Sulfonate Gemini Surfactant Solutions

Interfacial tensions (IFT) of five alkylbenzene sulfonate Gemini surfactants Ia, Ib, Ic, Id, and Ie at different oils/water systems were measured by a spinning drop interfacial tensiometer. And critical micelle concentration (CMC), the interfacial tension at CMC (γ_CMC), maximum interfacial excess concentration (Γ _max) and the surface area per molecule (A_min) were calculated. The results indicated that the CMC values determined with interfacial tension method were lower than those determined with surface tension method. And γ_CMC for Ie is larger than that for Ia, Ib, Ic, and Id. In addition, the effects of temperature and hydrophobic chains on dynamic IFT were also studied. With the increment of temperature, dynamic IFT is easier to reach a stable value. However, with the increment of hydrophobic chains, dynamic IFT is more difficult to reach a stable value. Each Gemini surfactant produces a minimum IFT when measured against a different n-alkane.