Surface Tension Reduction Efficiency Research Articles

Effects of polymer-surfactant interactions on drag reduction performance and mechanisms: Molecular dynamics simulations and experimentation

This work provides a more favorable implementation of synergistic drag reduction strategies based on molecular simulations of the strength of polymer-surfactant interactions. The simulated preferred system identifies polyethylene oxide (PEO) and guar gum (GG) as polymers, and dodecyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (DDBAC) and dodecyl hydroxy sulfobetaine (DHSB). To forecast the drag reduction capability and identify the drag reduction process, important elements such as aggregation phenomena, charge distribution, shear deformation, and interfacial behavior were examined. Experimental measurements of viscosity, surface tension, and drag reduction validate the interactions. It was found that the compound system demonstrates enhanced viscosity, surface tension, and drag reduction efficiency compared to individual systems. The PEO-DHSB system achieves a drag reduction rate of 63.68% during initial flow, while the GG-DHSB system maintains a rate of 47.26% even after prolonged water circulation. This work visualizes the poly-surface aggregation phenomenon using the density distribution of surfactant hydrophobic tail chains, dynamically demonstrating the deformation of polymer and surfactant molecules during the shear process and interfacial behavior, and providing molecular-scale intuitive insights for understanding the drag reduction mechanism of poly-surface systems. Meanwhile, by comparing the effects of molecular type and structure on poly-surface interactions and drag reduction performance, it provides a theoretical foundation for the development and application of subsequent poly-surface drag reduction schemes, thereby broadening the application of drag reduction technology in the field of energy conservation and emission reduction.

Effect of hydrophobic chain length on the properties of polycarboxylate polymeric surfactants

In this work, a series of polycarboxylate polymeric surfactants were designed and synthesized from acrylate monomers with different alkyl chain lengths (alkyl chain lengths of 1, 4, 6, 12, 18), epoxy succinic acid (ESA), acrylic acid (AA) and 2-acrylamide-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS). Their structures were confirmed by FT-IR, 1H NMR and GPC. A series of surfactant parameters, including critical micelle concentration (CMC), minimum surface tension, surface tension reduction at critical micelle concentration (Πcmc), surface tension reduction efficiency (pC20), etc, were obtained by surface activity test. The results showed that with the increase of the alkyl chain length of acrylate, surface tension and CMC of polycarboxylate polymeric surfactants gradually decreased. When the alkyl chain length of acrylate monomer was 12, the surface tension of polycarboxylate polymeric surfactants was the lowest, which was 32.6 mN/m. The results of TG, DLS and TEM showed that with the increased of the alkyl chain length of the acrylate, the micellar size of polycarboxylate polymeric surfactants decreased regularly. Meanwhile, the foaming, wetting and emulsifying properties of polycarboxylate polymeric surfactants were positively correlated with the alkyl chain length of the acrylate. The dispersing ability of polycarboxylate polymeric surfactants for calcium carbonate was 101.5 mg/g, which can dispersed Fe2O3 fouling to less than 1 μm under the condition of 0.6 g/L.

Evaluation of interfacial, micellar, and foaming properties of the solutions comprising fluorocarbon surfactant, cocamidopropyl betaine, and Gleditsia saponin as fire-extinguishing agents

The interfacial, micellar, and foam properties of unitary, binary, and ternary aqueous solutions containing a non-ionic fluorocarbon surfactant (FC-170C), an ionic hydrocarbon surfactant (CAB), and Gleditsia saponin (GS) were comprehensively investigated. FC-170C showed the highest surface activity and micellization ability, CAB and GS showed the strongest foaming ability and foam stability, respectively. For binary mixtures, the interaction in each pair of mixtures synergistically enhanced the ability of surface tension reduction, but had little synergistic effect on the efficiency of surface tension reduction. For the ternary mixtures, at an optimal formulation of 7.43 × 10-6 mol/L FC-170C, 5.26 × 10-3 mol/L CAB, and 1.60 × 10-4 mol/L GS, the values of γ, h0, R5min, and bubble size were 17.3 mN/m, 117 mm, 98%, and 115–116 μm, respectively. In particular, the required amount of fluorocarbon was reduced to 6.78 mg/kg, which is significantly<50 mg/kg limit set by international conventions for fire extinguishing agents.

Inclusion complexation of surfactant with β-cyclodextrin and its effect on the mixed micellization of cationic/anionic surfactants

Inclusion complexation of surfactant with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) is an active research topic in supramolecular chemistry. For the mixed system of β-CD and cationic/anionic surfactants, the thermodynamic and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation studies can provide valuable information about synergism between cationic and anionic surfactants and competition between inclusion complexation and mixed micellization. Experimental results indicated a synergistic effect between CTAB and SL in surface tension reduction efficiency and effectiveness, and in mixed micelle formation. The surface tension experiments indicated that for single surfactant CTAB or SL, the binding stoichiometry was β-CD:surfactant = 1:1. For the 1:1 β-CD/surfactant inclusion complexes, umbrella sampling simulation results indicated that SL bound preferentially to the wide rim of β-CD, while, CTAB had a similar probability of binding to either rim of β-CD. Both experimental and simulation results indicated that the inclusion affinity of β-CD with CTAB was significantly stronger than that of β-CD with SL. Due to the electrostatic attraction between the oppositely charged headgroups, the distance between adjacent CTA+ and L− ions was significantly shorter than that between two adjacent CTA+ (or L−) ions. It encouraged us to explore whether the 1:1:1 β-CD/CTAB/SL inclusion complex could form. The MD simulation results indicated that all four possible initial 1:1:1 conformations were unstable. The final stable inclusion complexes were in 1:1 β-CD/CTAB and 1:1 β-CD/SL forms consistent with the umbrella sampling simulation results of the single surfactant. The results suggested that the inclusion interaction becomes less competitive with mixed micellization as the composition approaches the equimolar ratio of CTAB and SL.

Effect of anions and cations on the self-assembly of ionic liquid surfactants in aqueous solution

Ionic liquid surfactants have shown increasing promise for substituting the traditional amphiphiles due to their flexible tunability and superior physicochemical properties. However, the effect of cationic structure and anion type on the surface properties of ionic liquid surfactants remains unclear. Herein, four ionic liquid surfactants [C12mim][BF4], [PyC12][Br], [C12mim][Br] and [PyC12][BF4] with the same alkyl side chain length were designed and synthesized. Their surface properties, such as micelle-free energy (ΔGmθ), surface tension reduction efficiency (ПCMC), and adsorption efficiency (pC20), and the influence of the type and structure of the anion and cation on their micellar physicochemical properties in aqueous solution were discussed according to the data. The proposed approach demonstrates that the critical micelle concentration (CMC) is determined by combining electrostatic and hydrophobic effects. When the anion is BF4−, the ionic liquid has a lower CMC, and BF4− has a superior hydrophobic effect, which allows the ionic liquid to form micelles more easily. In addition, the ionic liquid of tetrafluoroborate has higher interfacial activity (larger pC20) at the same temperature and its aqueous solution has lower surface tension, making it a more desirable surfactant. All four types of ionic liquids have negative values of ΔGmθ, implying that micelle formation is a spontaneous process. The surface activity of imidazolium- and pyridinium-based ionic liquids was slightly different from the critical micelle concentration under the same anion and carbon chain length. Imidazole and pyridine have highly similar hydrophobic and electrostatic effects, and the cation may not be the most critical factor affecting the surface properties.

Investigation of an anaesthetic drug (tetracaine hydrochloride) in the presence of ionic fluid and surfactant: Mixed micellization & spectroscopic studies

The effect of ionic liquid and cationic surfactant on the physicochemical characteristic of an anaesthetic drug (tetracaine hydrochloride, TCH) has been studied in the current task. The ionic fluid (1-hexadecyl-3-methyl imidazolium chloride, SAIL) and cationic surfactant (cetylpyridinium chloride, CPC) used in this study are of the same hydrophobic chain length. Tensiometric and absorption spectroscopic methods have been castoff to study the interaction of TCH with SAIL/CPC. The critical micelle concentration (cmc) values of single and mixed amphiphiles were computed by the surface tension method. In addition to cmc, maximum surface excess concentrations (Γmax), minimum surface areas per surfactant molecule (Amin), surface tension at the cmc (γcmc), surface tension reduction efficiency (πcmc), and several thermodynamic parameters of mixed micellization were measured. The calculated average value for the interaction parameter (βRub) suggests TCH show higher synergistic interaction with SAIL compared to CPC. The better attractive interaction (synergism) between SAIL and TCH is also confirmed by UV–visible spectroscopy. The absorption spectra of the drug show increase in the absorption with increasing the concentration of surfactants without any shift confirming the formation of a new complex. The binding constant value is more for the TCH + SAIL mixture.

Effects of oxyethylene groups on the adsorption behavior and application performance of long alkyl chain phosphate surfactants

Alcohol ether-derived surfactants have caused extensive research in the past period. Alcohol ether phosphate is one of them. However, detailed information about long alkyl chain phosphates (LAPs) is rarely reported in the previous literature. To bridge this gap, in this paper, LAPs with different oxyethylene (EO) addition numbers are used as the research objects. The influence of EO chain length on the adsorption behavior of LAPs is explored through static surface tension, dynamic surface tension and dynamic contact angle. The results indicate that the LAPs that contain no EO group or with fewer EO groups have very low surface tension reduction efficiency and kinetic surface activity, but it can be significantly improved by introducing longer EO chains. The adsorption process of LAP samples with faster adsorption rate on the gas-liquid surface is the mixed diffusion-kinetic mechanism. It has the fastest adsorption rate when the EO addition number is 9. In addition, the wetting, permeability, emulsification, and foam stability of LAPs can be significantly improved by introducing a longer EO chain, but the antistatic property is better when the EO chain is shorter.

Synthesis and characterization both micellization and thermodynamic parameter of cationic surfactant mixture derived from vegetable oil

The imidazolinium chloride salts have improved as a potential new material for a wide variety of industrial operations, due to their exceptional structures and properties. Therefore, recognition of the surface proprieties and thermodynamic criteria of this product is extremely important for fundamental and industrial operations. In this investigation a mixture of fatty imidazolinium chlorides was synthesized dealing with a novel method using sunflower oil as a promoter of fatty acids. The reaction of ethane-1,2 diamine with a fatty acid yields a fatty imidazoline molecule. Hydrochloric acid was used to obtain fatty imidazolinium hydrochlorides with cationic surfactant properties. A FT-IR and NMR spectroscopic technique was using to establish the synthetic structure. The surface tension and conductivity as a function of the surfactant concentration in aqueous solution were measured at distinct temperatures, to figure out the micellization, adsorption and aggregation characteristics in aqueous solutions. Formerly the effect of temperature on the CMC was investigated. The HLB values were assumed for our surfactant and the results achieved indicate that it is O/W emulsifier. The Krafft point was identified at 288.45 K. All Surface adsorption parameters like, the maximum surface excess concentration (Γmax), minimum area per molecule (Amin), effectiveness (πCMC), and efficiency of surface tension reduction (pC20) were calculated using Gibb’s equation. Finally, an attentive study of the thermodynamic aspects of air-ionic surfactant aqueous system reveals that the process of both micellization and adsorbtion was spontaneous and that adsorption is more favored than micellization.

Nonionic Surfactant Properties of Amphiphilic Hyperbranched Polyglycerols.

The surfactant properties of amphiphilic hyperbranched polyglycerols (HPGs) were investigated. The HPGs were prepared by ring-opening multibranching polymerization of glycidol using hydrophobic initiators of varying size and structure. The cloud points for all HPG surfactants were found to be >80 °C in deionized water with >1 wt % NaCl. The HPG surfactants with hydrophilic-lipophilic balance values between 16 and 18 were found to form stable octanol/water (o/w) emulsions within a 24 h period. Several surface properties, including critical micelle concentration (CMC), efficiency of surface tension reduction (pC20), effectiveness of surface tension reduction (γCMC), surface excess concentration at the CMC (Γmax), minimum area/molecule at the interface (Amin), and the CMC/C20 ratio of the HPG surfactants were measured in deionized water at 22.6 °C. In general, increasing HPG size was marked by an increase in minimum surface area per molecule (Amin) at the aqueous liquid/air interface. This increase in size also led to lower CMC and greater pC20 values of HPG surfactants prepared with Tergitol 15-S-7 initiator (HPG 5a-5d), a commercially available ethylene glycol oligomer with a branched hydrophobic tail.

Experimental investigation of the behaviour of a novel amino acid-based surfactant relevant to EOR application

Acylated amino acids, a group of amino acid-based surfactants have been the focus of recent studies as green alternatives to petrochemical-based surfactants yet their enhanced oil recovery (EOR) potential is understudied. The few reported amino acid-based surfactants in literature showed less satisfactory performance compared to conventional surfactants with regards to their EOR application. In this present study, however, sodium cocoyl alaninate (SCA); an amino acid-based surfactant has been proven to have excellent properties relevant to its EOR application. It proved to have comparable or even better performance to commonly deployed surfactants for EOR application. Its surface activity and thermodynamic properties of aggregation are evaluated. The aggregation behaviour was considered employing surface tensiometry and conductometry data. With EOR application in mind, the interfacial tension (IFT) and wettability modification studies were made as well. The results were compared to conventional surfactants and other amino acid-based surfactants. SCA has surface tension reduction efficiency and effectiveness of 2.74 and 40.79 mN/m respectively compared to sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) with 2.51 and 32.5 mN/m. This proves that SCA is superior to SDS in terms of surface activity. Furthermore, with 91% reduction in IFT by SCA compared to 89% reduction by SDS, the superior surface activity of SCA to SDS was confirmed. There was evidence of synergy in reducing IFT when salt was added. About 47% improvement in IFT reduction was observed. SCA also has a superior ability to SDS and CTAB in modifying quartz and carbonate surfaces' wettability respectively. Quartz surface was altered from intermediate wet to water wet while carbonate surface was altered from oil wet to water wet. SCA, therefore, proves to be an excellent alternative to conventional EOR surfactants due to its superb surface activity coupled with its environmentally benign nature.

Synthesis of Fatty Alcohol Ether Carboxylic Ester Surfactant and its Performance in an Anionic/Non-Ionic Mixed System

A salt-type fatty alcohol ether carboxylic ester (AECE-Na) surfactant with both anionic and non-ionic characteristics was synthesised using a fatty alcohol ether (AEO) and succinic anhydride. Compared with traditional synthetic methods, neither irritating substances (chloroacetic acid and chloroacetate) nor precious metals (Pt and Pd) were used in the synthesis, which is a simple, economic, and green method. FT-IR and 1H NMR spectroscopies and MALDI TOF mass spectrometry were used to prove the molecular structure of the target product AECE-Na. In addition, the surface activities, intermolecular interactions, application properties, and aggregation behaviours of the individual systems (AEO and AECE-Na) and the anionic/non-ionic mixed system (AECE-Na/AEO) were investigated. The results showed that AECE-Na/AEO exhibits synergistic effects in terms of surface tension reduction efficiency, wetting, emulsification, foaming, and detergency compared with the individual systems.

The micelle thermodynamics and mixed properties of sulfobetaine-type zwitterionic Gemini surfactant with nonionic and anionic surfactants

The surface tension curves of three zwitterionic Gemini surfactants (GCS12, GCS14, and GCS16) were measured at different temperatures. According to the values of critical micelle concentration (cmc) and γcmc, the thermodynamic parameters of these surfactants were calculated. As temperature increases, the cmc values decrease, and the surface activities increase. The thermodynamic parameters indicate that the micellization and adsorption of these surfactants are spontaneous, endothermic and entropy-driven. The process of micellization and adsorption features an enthalpy-entropy compensation phenomenon. The compensation temperatures of micellization are in the range of 311.2~312.8 K, while those of adsorption are between 310.2 K and 312.2 K. Among these surfactants, GCS14 aggregates most easily into micelles, and the micelles of GCS14 are the most stable. Moreover, the mixed properties of GCS14 with anionic surfactant (SDS) and nonionic surfactant (CDA) were investigated, respectively. The GCS14/SDS mixtures exhibit excellent surface activities, and GCS14 plays an essential role in the mixtures. At αGCS14 = 0.8, the cmc and γcmc values reach a minimum. According to the regular solution theory, the great absolute values of βσ (for mixed monolayer formation at the aqueous solution/air interface) and βm (for mixed micelle formation in aqueous solution) indicate the strong attraction between GCS14 and SDS. The GCS14/SDS mixtures show synergistic effects in three properties, including the efficiency in surface tension reduction, the ability of micelle formation, and the ability of surface tension reduction. Also, the mixtures of GCS14 and CDA feature excellent surface activities. At αGCS14 = 0.8, the cmc and γcmc values reach a minimum. For the GCS14/CDA mixtures, the great absolute values of βσ and βm suggest these mixtures exhibit the synergistic effect in the surface tension reduction and the formation of the micelles. Zwitterionic Gemini surfactant GCS14 reveals stronger synergistic effects in the formation of mixed micelle and mixed monolayers with anionic surfactant (SDS) than with the nonionic surfactant (CDA). The molecule attraction between GCS14 and SDS or CDA in the mixed films is stronger than in the micelles.

Simultaneous Application of Biosurfactant and Bioaugmentation with Rhamnolipid-Producing Shewanella for Enhanced Bioremediation of Oil-Polluted Soil

In the present study, a combined treatment strategy involving the addition of rhamnolipid, rhamnolipid-producing bacteria (Shewanella sp. BS4) and a native soil microbial community for the remediation of hydrocarbon-contaminated soil under pilot-scale conditions was adopted. The isolate BS4 (rhl+), demonstrating the highest emulsification activity and surface tension reduction efficiency, was identified based on 16 S rDNA sequencing as Shewanella sp. strain. Growth conditions for rhamnolipid production were optimized based on Central Composite Design (CCD) as 2.9% crude oil, a 54 × 106 CFU g−1 inoculation load of soil, a temperature of 30.5 °C, and a pH of 6.7. In situ bioremediation experiments, conducted using hydrocarbon-contaminated soil treated with the combination of rhamnolipid and rhamnolipid-producing bacteria, showed that the inoculated Shewanella sp. BS4, along with the indigenous soil microbial community, supported the highest hydrocarbon-degrading bacterial population and soil respiration activity, and this treatment resulted in 75.8% hydrocarbon removal efficiency, which was higher compared to contaminated soil devoid of any treatment.

Synergism and Phase Behavior of Alcohol Polyoxyethylene Ether Acetate and Cationic Surfactant‐Mixed Systems

AbstractSynergism in mixed micelle formation and surface tension reduction efficiency and the ternary phase behavior of anionic surfactant (alcohol polyoxyethylene ether acetate containing 10 ethylene oxide group and a fatty chain of C16–18) with cationic surfactants (dodecyldimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride and lauryltrimethyl ammonium chloride) were investigated. Surface tension of the systems at different molar ratios was studied in detail and the interaction parameters of each system were calculated. The results show that both systems have lower values of critical micelle concentration (CMC) and γcmc than individual surfactants especially at equal ratio between cationic and anionic surfactants. Both systems present synergism in mixed micelle formation and surface tension reduction efficiency. The ternary phase behavior of the two systems was investigated using a polarized microscope. The micellar phase and lamellar phase were observed in both systems and the coexisting phase was only observed in the dodecyldimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride system.

Effect of Spacer on Surface Activity and Foam Properties of Betaine Gemini Surfactants

AbstractA series of betaine-type Gemini surfactants (Cs-BGS, where C is the methylene part of the spacer, s = 2, 4, 6) were synthesized from sodium 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropanesulfonate, oleamidopropyl dimethylamine and bromoalkane. The chemical structure of the prepared compounds was confirmed by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, IR spectra, and elemental analysis. Their critical micelle formation concentrations (CMC) in the aqueous solution at 25 °C were determined by measuring the surface tension and the electrical conductivity. As the length of the spacer increased, the values of their CMC and γcmc also increased. The surface tension measurements of C2-BGS revealed that the surfactant possesses a low CMC, is very efficient in reducing the surface tension, and is very strongly adsorbed at the air-water interface. In addition, the adsorption and micellization behavior of Cs-BGS was estimated from the efficiency of surface tension reduction (pC20), minimum average surface area per surfactant molecule (Amin), and standard free energies of micellization and adsorption. These properties are significantly affected by the spacers and the adsorption is more favored than the micellization.

Study on the Synergism of Binary Surfactant Mixtures containing N-lauroyl-N-methyl Taurine Sodium

AbstractThe surface tension of the two mixed systems had been investigated in 0.1 M NaCl solution at 298.15 K respectively, including the surface tension of the anionic surfactant N-lauroyl-N-methyl taurine sodium (SDMT) and of the cationic surfactant dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride (DTAC), and zwitterionic surfactant dodecyl betaine (BS-12). The chemical surface properties of the two mixed systems were studied and the regular solution theory was applied to the two mixed systems. The results showed that the binary surfactant mixtures of SDMT/DTAC and SDMT/BS-12 exhibited synergism in surface tension reduction effectiveness, surface tension reduction efficiency and the mixed micelle formation according to β values. It was also found that the results calculated by this theory agreed well with the experimental values.

Study on the Complex System of Sodium Lauryl Diphenyl Ether Disulfonate and Dodecyl Dimethyl Hydroxyethyl Ammonium Chloride

AbstractSurface chemical properties of the mixed system of sodium lauryl diphenyl ether disulfonate (C12-MADS, an anionic surfactant with double hydrophilic groups) and dodecyl dimethyl hydroxyethyl ammonium chloride (K3, a cationic quaternary ammonium surfactant) along with different proportion have been studied at 298 K and 318 K. Synergistic parameters of the mixture in the mixed micelles and the mixed adsorption layer were also calculated by using the regular solution theory. The composition of the mixed micelles and of the mixed adsorption layer was obtained. The results show that the surface chemical properties of C12-MADS/K3 mixture are better than either of single system, and when the solution ratio (α1 = [n (K3)/n (C12-MADS + K3)]) is 0.7 and 0.9, the surface tension curve has a double inflection point which indicates a synergistic effect between the surfactant molecules. The complex system showed a strong synergistic effect in the mixed adsorption layer and the mixed micelles. The mixed system of C12-MADS/K3 has synergism in surface tension reduction effectiveness, surface tension reduction efficiency and mixed micelle formation. When α1 is 0.67, the synergistic effect is the strongest.

Research of Binary Surfactant Mixtures Based on N-Lauroyl Sarcosinate

Abstract Surface properties of binary surfactant systems of N-lauroyl sarcosinate (LS) with fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether (AEO9), dodecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (DTAC) and dodecyl dimethyl betaine (BS-12) have been investigated in aqueous NaCl (0.1 mol · L−1) solution at (298 ± 0.1) K, respectively. Synergistic parameters of the two components in both mixed micelles and mixed adsorption layers were obtained by calculations. Furthermore, we applied the regular solution theory on the mixed systems when synergism in mixed micelle formation, surface tension reduction efficiency and surface tension effectiveness was researched. The results show that there are synergistic effects in the mixed systems, the surface performances of the mixtures are significantly better than that of any single component in the mixed systems. The result coincides with the relevant theories of the ability of mixed micelle formation, surface tension reduction efficiency and surface tension reduction effectiveness.

Effects of the Polypropylene Oxide Number on the Surface Properties of a Type of Extended Surfactant

AbstractThe surface properties of 5 extended surfactant C12–14P mE2S solutions in pure water and 0.1 M NaCl were investigated through surface tension and electrical conductivity measurements. The surface properties measured include the critical micelle concentration (CMC), critical surface tension (γcmc), maximum surface excess concentration (Γmax), minimum area occupied per surfactant molecule (Amin), and efficiency in surface tension reduction (pC20). The CMC values of the 5 surfactants decreased with increasing polypropylene oxide number (PON) and were higher than those obtained in 0.1 M NaCl. The Γmax values showed a downward trend whereas the Amin values exhibited an upward trend with increasing PON without NaCl. The Γmax values were higher and the Amin values were lower than those obtained without 0.1 M NaCl. The CMC values increased at elevated temperatures. The CMC values of C12–14P3E2S, C12–14P5E2S, and C12–14P8E2S were similar but were markedly lower than those of C12–14E2S at different temperatures. When PON was less than 12, the log CMC value decreased linearly with increasing PON in the absence of salt, and the relationship between pC20 and PON was linear. But in the presence of 0.1 M NaCl, the log CMC value decreased exponentially with increasing PON.

Study on a Ternary Surfactant System of Disodium Hexadecyl Diphenyl Ether Disulfonate, Dodecyldimethyl Hydroxyethyl Ammonium Chloride and Fatty Alcohol Polyoxyethylene Ether

AbstractThis study was focused on a ternary complex system composed of hexadecyl diphenyl ether disulfonate (C16-MADS), dodecyl dimethyl hydroxyethyl ammonium chloride (K3) and fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether (AEO9). The binary mixture C-K consisting of C16-MADS and K3 was investigated and the maximum synergism was obtained when the mole ratio was 0.33:0.67. Subsequently, AEO9 was added to the binary C-K complex system to investigate whether the behavior of the new complex system, in which C-K is thought to be a surfactant, can be explained by the theory of regular solution. The maximum synergism was achieved when the molar ratio of C-K and AEO9 was 7:3. The regular solution theory could well explain the synergism in mixed micelle formation and the synergism in surface tension reduction efficiency, but the synergism in surface tension reduction effectiveness did not match with the experimental data. So, there still exist some deficiencies in the application of the regular solution theory to a complex system of three surfactants.