Redox-switchable microemulsions with efficient phase separation and surfactant recycling

Abstract

HypothesisSwitchable microemulsions (MEs) are those capable of adaptively responding to the action of internal or external stimuli. For redox-switchable MEs to obtain high-efficiency phase separation and surfactant recycling, it may be one of the keys to adequately turn off the interfacial activity of surfactants and reduce the solubility of the closed surfactants in the oil phase. ExperimentsMonophasic MEs consisting 11-butylselanyl-undecyl sulfate sodium (C4SeC11SO4Na), n-butanol, n-octane, and water were fabricated using the pseudo-ternary phase diagram method. Their structural features and droplets size were characterized by conductivity, dynamic light scattering (DLS) and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM), respectively. The redox response of MEs was studied using a combination of visual observations and DLS, cryo-TEM, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and thin-layer tomography. The efficient recycling of C4SeC11SO4Na from a well-emulsified eluent is conceptually demonstrated. FindingsThe reversible transition between C4SeC11SO4Na and C4SeOC11SO4Na is achieved under the alternating action of H2O2 and N2H4, by which C4SeC11SO4Na-based monophasic MEs are able to efficiently demulsify and regenerate, respectively, regardless of their type. After H2O2-induced demulsification of the MEs, C4SeOC11SO4Na can be efficiently recycled with the water phase. We hope that such a redox-switching method may benefit some technological applications. For example, it offers exciting possibilities for simultaneous recycling C4SeC11SO4Na and removal of oil from a well-emulsified eluent. Around 97.1 ± 0.3 % of C4SeC11SO4Na could be recycled over five cycles with no apparent loss. After a simple and conventional treatment with anion-exchange resin and active carbon, the total organic carbon and chemical oxygen demand of the waste water were 17.4 ± 2.8 and 26.2 ± 1.4 mg/L, respectively.