Interaction behaviour in ultrafiltration of nonionic surfactants Part II. Static adsorption below CMC

Two homologous series of nonionic surfactants, namely Rhom and Haas' tritons (alkylphenol ethoxylates) and Shell dobanols (dobanol ethoxylates) were used to characterize surface properties of ultrafiltration membranes. Static adsorption experiments were carried out to reveal the interactions developed between the membrane and the nonionic surfactant. The surfactant adsorption on the membranes depends on the chemical composition and structure of both the membranes and the surfactants used, as both chemical composition and structure determine the type of interactions controlling this adsorption illustrated on the adsorption isotherms. Distinct different behaviour was exhibited by four types of membranes of the same nominal molecular weight cut-off. The influence of pH and ionic strength was studied also.