Thermodynamics of Micellization of Aqueous Solutions of Binary Mixtures of Two Anionic Surfactants

Abstract

The thermodynamics of micellization of mixed anionic/anionic surfactant solutions, that is, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDDS) and sodium decyl sulfate (SDS), have been studied by surface tension, density, and conductivity measurements. The obtained results indicate that the values of critical micelle concentration strongly depend on the composition of the mixture and that the mole fraction of surfactants in the mixed micelle calculated on the basis of Rosen and Villeneuve approaches are different from those in the bulk phase. The small negative deviation from the linear relationship between the critical micelle concentrations and composition of SDDS and SDS mixtures in the bulk phase, the values of the molecular interaction parameters, activity coefficients, and the excess Gibbs energy of mixed micelle formation calculated on the basis of Rosen and Villeneuve approaches and calculations based on the MT theory of Blankschtein proved that there is synergism in mixed micelle formation of aqueous solutions of SDDS and SDS. It was also found that the values of the standard Gibbs energy of micellization for the mixture of these two surfactants which confirm the synergetic effect can be predicted on the basis of the proposed equations which include the values of the mole fraction of surfactant in the mixed micelle and excess Gibbs energy of micellization of SDDS and SDS. Knowing the values of mole fractions of surfactants in the mixed micelle, it is also possible to calculate the volume change of surfactants after the micellization process.