Surface Property of Nonionic Surfactant Triton X-100 in an Ionic Liquid

A common nonionic surfactant Triton X-100 was dissolved in a commercial ionic liquid (IL) 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (bmimBF₄). The surface tension of the bmimBF₄ solution was decreased with increasing the content of surfactant Triton X-100, a similar phenomenon with aqueous solution systems. Dynamic surface properties of Triton X-100 in bmimBF₄ were measured. It was found that pure IL solvents need rearrangement at the air-bmimBF₄ interface during the beginning stage of absorption. Moreover, the adsorption model was found to be in accord with the diffusion-controlled adsorption mechanism, and further, the dilute bmimBF₄ solutions are close to the diffusion-controlled adsorption.