Retracted: Cloud point behaviour modelling of polyoxyethylene nonionic surfactants

Abstract

The cloud point temperature, Tc, of commercial nonionic surfactants: poly(oxyethylene) alkyl ethers (case: dodecan‐1ol polyethoxylate, with the middle chemical structure n‐C12E6) was predicted by applying the Flory–Huggins theory for polymer solutions, adapted to alcohol ethoxylates aqueous solutions by Rupert and using the pseudo‐phase model original developed for micro‐emulsions diagrams composition. The variations of interaction enthalpy as a function of carbon chain length and number of ethylene oxide units are also modelled. The expression of Tc as the function of the composition was derived assuming the regular solution for mixed micelles. The experimental results of the cloud point obtained for mixtures of n‐C12E6 was better reproduced by the pseudo‐phase model, which requires more specific surfactant data (the critical micelles concentration, cmc; critical temperature TC), and a minimum of experimental data.