Abstract
We define the Hydrophile-Lipophile-Balanced plane (HLB plane) as the plane on which the three-phase triangle in the midst of the three-phase region (consisting of water, surfactant, and oil phases) is positioned. The equation of the HLB plane is obtained in the composition tetrahedron of a pseudo-four-component system (the components being brine/ionic surfactant/nonionic surfactant/oil), assuming that the CMC in the aqueous phase is negligible. The effect of the surfactant/cosurfactant ratio, the oil/water ratio, and the surfactant concentration on the three-phase behavior is well predicted by this equation. The effect of salinity and temperature on the three-phase behavior is also discussed. Thus it is shown that a temperature-insensitive microemulsion (surfactant phase) is achieved in a dilute region of ionic-nonionic surfactant pair, by depressing the solubility of the lipophilic surfactant in the oil phase of the three-phase region. Moreover, the equation yields an HLB number of ionic surfactant which is considerably smaller than Griffin's value. It is considered that Griffin's overestimation comes from neglecting the solubility of lipophilic surfactant in the oil phase.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
