Cloud point temperature of polyoxyethylene-type nonionic surfactants and their mixtures

Abstract

The cloud point temperature, T c , was investigated for aqueous solutions of poly(oxyethylene) alkyl ethers, C n E m , and their mixtures. The experimental T c 's for single surfactant systems were analyzed according to the Flory–Huggins model for cloud point phenomenon, and the enthalpy and the entropy changes associated with the process of the separation of micellar solution into pure water and pure surfactant were estimated. It was found that the enthalpy–entropy compensation relationship holds for this process. The Flory–Huggins model was extended to the binary surfactant mixtures, and the expression of T c as a function of the composition was derived assuming the regular solution for mixed micelles. The experimental results of T c obtained for mixtures of C n E m were well reproduced by the model calculation. Discussion is given concerning the interaction parameters of different surfactant species in mixed micelles determined by this model calculation.