Polyoxyethylene Alkyl Ether Research Articles

Acceleration of dispersing calcium carbonate particle in aqueous media using jet milling method

Suspending particles in a liquid phase is a key to producing various functional nano products. We prepared calcium carbonate (CaCO3) particles in aqueous suspension using two methods, ultrasonication and jet milling, and characterized them using various techniques. Suspensions of CaCO3 particles in aqueous media were prepared with different industrial surfactants: polyethylene glycol p-(1,1,3,3,-tetramethylbutyl)-phenyl ether (Triton X-100), polyoxyethylene(23) lauryl ether (Brij35), polyoxyethylene alkylether (Softanol70), and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). According to dynamic light scattering and asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation assessments, the dispersed CaCO3 particles are clearly small when Triton X-100 or Softanol 70 is used as the surfactant regardless of whether ultrasonication or jet milling was used as the dispersion method, although the size distribution of the particles varies depending on the dispersion method. The observed zeta potentials of the CaCO3 particles in various surfactant solutions support the finding that Triton X-100 and Softanol70 are good dispersants for CaCO3 particles in aqueous media because of their larger electrostatic repulsion interaction. Pulsed field gradient nuclear magnetic resonance (PFG-NMR) indicated that jet milling accelerates interaction/adsorption between CaCO3 particles and surfactant molecules, so it disperses the aggregated/agglomerated CaCO3 particles more effectively than ultrasonication. In addition, interestingly, we found that Softanol70 worked well as a dispersant for CaCO3 particles in aqueous media for both ultrasonication and jet milling, as indicated by the PFG-NMR assessment.

Effects of 2 Polyoxyethylene Alkyl Ethers on the Function of Intestinal P-glycoprotein and Their Inhibitory Mechanisms

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of polyoxyethylene 10-oleyl ether and polyoxyethylene 9-lauryl ether, 2 polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, on the transport and absorption of 2 P-glycoprotein (P-gp) substrates, quinidine and prednisolone, across the intestinal membrane and to elucidate the inhibitory mechanisms of intestinal P-gp by these polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers. For in vitro studies, we used a diffusion chamber method and the Caco-2 cell model. An in situ closed-loop method was used for in vivo study. The 2 polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, nonionic surfactants, increased the intestinal absorptive transport of quinidine and prednisolone in the diffusion chamber studies, and absorptive permeability was enhanced in the in vitro Caco-2 cell study. Furthermore, these surfactants enhanced the rat intestinal absorption of prednisolone, and we observed no intestinal membrane damage in the presence of these surfactants. Furthermore, these surfactants increased membrane fluidity in intestinal brush border membranes and inhibited P-gp ATPase activity. For in vitro and in vivo studies, these surfactants enhanced the intestinal absorption of quinidine and prednisolone, 2 P-gp substrates. The alteration in intestinal membrane fluidity and the inhibition of P-gp ATPase activity by these 2 polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers may be confirmed as mechanisms of P-gp inhibition.

Characterizing solid/ionic liquid interfaces in the presence of water and nonionic surfactants

The adsorption of nonionic surfactants on hydrophilic solid surfaces has been characterized using mixtures of an aprotic room-temperature ionic liquid (RT-IL) with water. The surfactants employed in this study were a series of polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers (CnEm, n is the hydrocarbon chain length, and m is the number of oxyethylene units, C10E6, C12E6, C14E6, C12E4, and C12E8), and the RT-IL used was 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BmimBF4). This RT-IL is completely miscible with water over a whole range of concentrations. Force curve measurements by atomic force microscopy (AFM) demonstrated that the adsorption of the nonionic surfactants occurred at a silica/solution interface even in the presence of added water. The surfactant aggregates formed at the interface grew as a function of the surfactant concentration; an attractive interaction observed below the critical micelle concentration (cmc) changed into a repulsive interaction above the cmc. Interestingly, multi-step repulsive interactions were observed in a few relatively solvophobic surfactant systems (i.e., the surfactants having longer hydrocarbon chain and/or shorter oxyethylene chain) in the presence of added water. It seems likely that these repulsive interactions arise from the repeated structure of the surfactant assemblies formed between the cantilever tip and the silica surface. In contrast, the surfactant adsorption was significantly inhibited on mica because of the absence of hydrogen bonding sites and/or the presence of well-structured IL solvation layers on the mica surface.

Structures and Surface Properties of "Cyclic" Polyoxyethylene Alkyl Ethers: Unusual Behavior of Cyclic Surfactants in Water.

The cyclization of amphiphiles has emerged as an attractive strategy for inducing remarkable properties in these materials without changing their chemical composition. In this study, we successfully synthesized three cyclic polyoxyethylene dodecyl ethers (c-POEC12's) with different ring sizes and explored the effects of their topology on their surface and self-assembly properties related to their function, comparing them with those of their linear counterparts (l-POEC12's). The surface activity of the c-POEC12's remained almost constant despite the change in their hydrophobic and hydrophilic balance (HLB) value, while that of the l-POEC12's decreased with an increase in the HLB value as general surfactants. In contrast to the normal micelles seen in the case of the l-POEC12's (3.4-9.7 nm), the cyclization of the POEC12's resulted in the formation of large spherical structures 72.8-256.8 nm in size. It also led to a dramatic decrease of 28 °C in the cloud point temperature. Furthermore, the cyclization of the POEC12's markedly suppressed the rate of protease hydrolysis caused by the surfactants. The initial rate of reduction of a detergent enzyme from Bacillus licheniformis was increased by more than 40% in the case of c-POE600C12 and c-POE1000C12, even though they exhibited surface activities almost equal to or higher than those of their linear counterparts. These results suggest that cyclization induces unusual aqueous behaviors in POEC12, making the surfactant milder with respect to detergent enzymes while ensuring it exhibits increased surface activity.

A New Type of Sulfobetaine Surfactant with Double Alkyl Polyoxyethylene Ether Chains for Enhanced Oil Recovery

AbstractA new type of sulfobetaine with double alkyl polyoxyethylene (n) ether chains, dicoconut oil alcohol polyoxethylene (n) ether methylhydroxylpropyl sulfobetaine (diC12–14EnHSB) was synthesized using a commercial nonionic surfactant, coconut oil alcohol polyoxethylene (n) ether, as raw material and its properties as a surfactant for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) in the absence of alkali was studied. The purified product is a mixture of homologues with mainly C12/C12, C12/C14 and C14/C14 alkyl chains and widely distributed EO chains (n = 2.2 on average) with an average molar mass of 742.6 g/mol. The diC12–14E2.2HSB has an improved aqueous solubility at 25 °C compared with didodecylmethylhydroxylpropyl sulfobetaine (diC12HSB), a homologue without an EO chain, and is highly surface active as reflected by its low CMC (4.6 × 10−6 mol/L), high saturated adsorption (6.8 × 10−10 mol/cm2) and small cross sectional area (0.24 nm2/molec.) at the air/water interface. With a hydrophile–lipophile balance well matched with Daqing crude oil/connate water system, the sulfobetaine can reduce Daqing crude oil/connate water interfacial tension to ultra‐low values at 45 °C in the absence of alkali, and displays a low saturated adsorption at the sandstone/water interface (0.0024 mmol/g), reduced by 69 and 92 % respectively in comparison with that of the corresponding carboxyl betaine, diC12–14E2.2B and its homologue without an EO chain, didodecylmethylcarboxyl betaine (diC12B). With these excellent properties diC12–14E2.2HSB gives a high tertiary recovery, 18.4 % original oil in place, when mixed with other hydrophobic and hydrophilic sulfobetaines in surfactant‐polymer (SP) flooding free of alkali. The insertion of EO chains in combination with the replacement of carboxyl betaine by sulfobetaine is therefore very efficient for improving the properties of the double chain hydrophobic carboxyl betaines as surfactants for SP flooding free of alkali.

Advantage of Sodium Polyoxyethylene Lauryl Ether Carboxylate as a Mild Cleansing Agent

AbstractFive anionic surfactants widely used in commercial skin cleansers were studied: sodium polyoxyethylene lauryl ether carboxylate (EC), sodium polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate (ES), sodium dodecyl sulfate, potassium laurate, and N‐cocoyl‐l‐glutamic acid monosodium salt. The amount of surfactant from aqueous solution adsorbed into the stratum corneum (SC), the degree of SC swelling, the change of the secondary structure of SC proteins (denaturation). The surface tension of surfactant–zein mixed solutions, and the solubilization behavior of zein were measured. Results showed that EC had the lowest adsorption into SC, the lowest SC swelling, and lowest denaturation of SC proteins. Low interactions between surfactants and SC proteins were also observed for EC/ES mixture solutions as well as. Mixing EC with ES good foaming performance. The EC/ES mixture, at about 1:1 ratio, is an excellent surfactant system for skin cleanser applications having cleansing characteristics and mildness to the skin.

Inhibition corrosion of zinc in concentrated alkaline electrolyte by combination of organic and inorganic compounds

Background. Zinc is widely used in chemical current sources (CCS) with alkaline electrolytes. One of the promising ways of self-discharge reduction and the service life improvement of the CCS is the use of zinc corrosion inhibitors. However, nowadays there is only a small number of known compounds that inhibit the corrosion of zinc alkaline, and the mechanism of the protective action of poorly understood.Objective. The objective is to study the influence of nitrohen-, oksyhen- and sulfur-containing organic compounds and their combinations with inorganic matter on corrosion of zinc in concentrated alkaline electrolyte, identifying the mechanism of their protective effect.Methods. The research was carried out by mass-metrical, volum-metrical and electrochemical methods with sheet (brand U0) and powder zinc10 M in KOH and in the same solution with inhibiting additives. Adsorption studies were performed by method of electro-capillary curve removal on a mercury electrode. Mixture state of organic and inorganic compounds was studied by NMR spectroscopy. Zinc surface state was studied by Auger spectroscopy coupled with ion etching after corrosion tests.Results. Combinations of polyoxyethylenealkyl ethers (FC VIS-15, DS-10, OP-4) and benzotriazole with salts of calcium and magnesium show high protective properties during zinc corrosion in10 M KOH. Protection degree of zinc electrode if any exists reaches 75 %. Inhibitors inhibit the process of hydrogen evolution in alkaline electrolytes but they do not affect significantly on anodic dissolution of zinc.Conclusions. There is the improvement of protective effect of organic inhibitors if there is calcium and magnesium in alkaline solutions. The obtained results indicate the prospects of using studied corrosion inhibitors in chemical power sources with zinc anode and alkaline electrolyte.

Effects of Polyoxyethylene Alkyl Ethers on the Intestinal Transport and Absorption of Rhodamine 123: A P-glycoprotein Substrate by In Vitro and In Vivo Studies

We examined the effects of polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers (Brijs) on the intestinal transport and absorption of rhodamine 123, a P-glycoprotein (P-gp) substrate, by in vitro and in vivo studies. Brijs increased the absorptive transport of rhodamine 123 and decreased its secretory transport in the in vitro diffusion chamber method. However, Brijs did not change the transport of 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein, a non-P-gp substrate, indicating that the effect of Brijs on the transport of drugs was P-gp substrate-specific. The effects of Brijs on rhodamine 123 transport across Caco-2 cell monolayers were also examined. Secretory transport of rhodamine 123 was enhanced and its absorptive transport was significantly reduced in the presence of Brijs. Furthermore, in the in vivo studies, Brijs also enhanced the intestinal absorption of rhodamine 123 in rats. The intestinal membrane damage produced by Brijs was also evaluated by measuring the activity of lactate dehydrogenase and the release of protein. We found almost no intestinal damage in the presence of various Brijs. These findings suggest that Brijs might inhibit the function of intestinal P-gp, thereby increasing the intestinal transport and absorption of P-gp substrates without serious intestinal membrane damage.

Synthesis and properties of a branched short-alkyl polyoxyethylene ether alcohol sulfate surfactant

A branched alkyl polyoxyethylene ether alcohol sulfate, sodium isooctyl polyoxyethylene ether sulfate (i-OE3S), was synthesized and its physic-chemical properties were investigated systematically. The experiment on Krafft point gave a result that the Krafft temperature of i-OE3S was below 0°C. The measurement of static surface tension showed that the critical micelle concentration (cmc) and surface tension at cmc (γcmc) of i-OE3S were 21.67mmol·L−1 and 27.4mN·m−1, respectively. From the results of dynamic surface tension (DST) measurements, we could obtain that the adsorption of i-OE3S at air/liquid interface is controlled by the mixed diffusion–kinetic mechanism. Spherical assemblies with a diameter in the range of 263 to 606nm in water were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The spreading performance of i-OE3S aqueous solution on paraffin film was investigated by dynamic contact angle and the results demonstrated that i-OE3S possessed an excellent spreading ability.

Investigation of Efficiency of Use of High-Temperature Greases in Steel Rolling - Part 2

We investigated the friction coefficients (steel-to-steel) for various rolling pressures on application of consistent anti-wear, antiwelding, and metal-cladding greases and 11 metal-working coolants. The protective grease ХАDО (Ukraine) and import anti-wear greases Mol Favorit-2, Shell Albida, and Mobil 461 were found to be effective in steel rolling. The greases containing molybdenum disulfide don’t have high greasing properties in steel rolling, i.e. at plastic deformations of steels. The surface-active substances PEG-4 (Rapeseedamine) and polyoxyethylene alkylether of carboxylic acids (AKYPO RO 90 and AKYPO RO 20) are suitable for creation of new technological metal-working coolants for steel rolling. Considerable decrease in friction coefficient is observed in steel rolling at use of a technological liquid “Universal-1TC”.

Cleaning of Starchy Soils in Clean-in-Place (CIP) Systems: Relationship Between Contact Angle and Detergency

The cleaning of hard surfaces soiled with starch films using nonionic (alkylpolyglucosides and polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers) and zwitterionic (lauramine oxide) surfactant solutions has been investigated. Response surface methodology was applied to determine the effect of the composition of the cleaning solution on detergency, as well as the relationship between the contact angle of surfactant solutions on starch films and the removal efficacy of such films. The surfactants with a higher capacity for the removal of starch films were lauramine oxide and alkylpolyglucosides, and their mixtures. The effect of polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers was also statistically significant; however, their contribution to soil removal was very low. A correlation between contact angle and detergency for starchy soils was found, and the importance of the hydration process of the starch film on its removal was established.

Spontaneous Emulsification of Triolein Induced by Mixed Micellar Solutions of Sodium Polyoxyethylene Alkyl Ether Sulfate and Dodecyldimethyl Amine Oxide.

A new mechanism of spontaneous emulsification without any salts or co-solvents is described, and is related to the dilatational behavior. Spontaneous emulsification can reduce the time required to remove oily soils from hard surfaces and enhance the detergency, because this type of emulsification requires no external mechanical work. In this paper, we focused on triolein, the main component of food oils and human sebum soil, and tried to induce spontaneous emulsification by using mixed micellar solutions of sodium polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate and N, N-dimethyldodecylamine oxide (AES/DDAO). We characterized the dilatation of the oil/water interface using dynamic interfacial tension and elasticity measurements. This study confirmed that the degree of spontaneous emulsification can be enhanced by controlling the molar ratio of DDAO to AES. This enhancement can be attributed to an increased rate of decrease in the dynamic interfacial tension (i.e., a decreased interface dilatational elasticity), allowing for much greater suppression of the Marangoni effect. Further, we determined that one of the reasons for the decrease in the interface dilatational elasticity is the increasing number of micelles near the oil drop interface, which results from a decrease in the electrostatic repulsion between the micelles and the drop interface. Therefore, controlling the molar ratio of a mixed anionic/amphoteric surfactant solution is an effective way to induce spontaneous emulsification in the absence of salts or co-solvents.

Effect of the alkyl chain length of a hydrophobic ionic liquid (IL) as an oil phase on the phase behavior and the microstructure of H2O/IL/nonionic polyoxyethylene surfactant ternary systems

The use of hydrophobic ionic liquids (ILs) as oil phases to formulate a H2O-in-IL (W/IL) microemulsion is of great significance to enzyme catalysis. In this report, we present the essential influence of the alkyl chain length of ILs on the phase behavior and the microstructure of H2O/IL/CnEm (polyoxyethylene alkyl ether) ternary systems. The ILs are [C4mim][PF6] (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate) and [C8mim][PF6] (1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate). For a given nonionic surfactant, the alkyl chain length of ILs has an influence on the water solubilization capacity. The difference in the capacity, however, narrows and even disappears upon significant increase of the hydrophilic chain length of CnEm. FTIR spectroscopy and UV-Vis spectroscopy confirm the existence of bulk water in both [C4mim][PF6]- and [C8mim][PF6]-based C12E23-stabilized W/IL microemulsions. The catalytic activity of laccase hosted in the W/IL microemulsion and the dynamic light scattering measurement reveal that under the same conditions, the water droplet size dispersed in [C4mim][PF6] is larger than that in [C8mim][PF6]. To establish the newly developed W/IL microemulsion as an effective medium for laccase, a control study is presented, demonstrating that the W/IL microemulsion is superior to the pure ILs for the expression of the catalytic activity of laccase.

Molecular fragment dynamics study on the water-air interface behavior of non-ionic polyoxyethylene alkyl ether surfactants

Molecular Fragment Dynamics (MFD) is a mesoscopic simulation technique based on Dissipative Particle Dynamics (DPD). Whereas DPD beads in general may not necessarily be identified with chemical compounds at all the MFD variant uses specific molecules or molecular fragments as its basic coarse-grained interacting entities (rather than the fine-grained atom types of Molecular Mechanics). MFD can be used to study formulations of drugs and active agents in oil, water and emulsions. MFD simulations of the nonionic polyoxyethylene alkyl ether surfactants C6E6, C10E6, C12E6 and C16E6 at the water-air interface are performed to study their nanoscale structures and surface properties. The simulations of the self-aggregation of the polyoxyethylene alkyl ether surfactants lead to equilibrium nanoscale structures and computationally determined surface tensions which are in agreement with experimental data for different surfactant concentrations [1]. Figure 1

Reversible Splenial Lesion in the Corpus Callosum on MRI after Ingestion of a Herbicide Containing Glufosinate Ammonium: A Case Report

Glufosinate ammonium (GLA) is a broad-spectrum herbicide used worldwide. As the use of GLA-containing herbicides has increased, poisoning from incidental and deliberate ingestion has also increased, and has been mostly reported from Japan. Most of glufosinate poisoning events were associated with suicide attempts using BASTA® (Bayer, Leverkusen, Germany). BASTA®, a herbicide containing glufosinate ammonium (18.5%) and the anionic surfactant, polyoxyethylene alkylether sulfate (30%), has been widely used in many countries since 1984 (1). Glufosinate poisoning has been reported to induce central nervous system (CNS) symptoms, such as drowsiness, memory impairment, and seizures. Also, the included anionic surfactant, which increases blood vessel permeability, may cause symptoms such as reduced circulatory blood volume, altered cardiac function, and systemic peripheral vessel resistance (1). Periventricular white matter ischemias, hippocampal lesions, and both hippocampal and striatal lesions have been reported following GLA intoxication, together with radiological findings (2, 3). We describe a patient who developed a reversible callosal lesion by ingesting a GLA-containing herbicide in an attempted suicide.

Molecular fragment dynamics study on the water–air interface behavior of non-ionic polyoxyethylene alkyl ether surfactants

Molecular fragment dynamics (MFD) is a mesoscopic simulation technique based on dissipative particle dynamics (DPD). MFD simulations of the self-aggregation of the polyoxyethylene alkyl ether surfactants C6E6, C10E6, C12E6 and C16E6 at the water–air surface lead to equilibrium nanoscale structures and computationally determined surface tensions which are in agreement with experimental data for different surfactant concentrations. Thus, molecular fragment dynamics is a well-suited predictive technique to study the behavior of new surfactant systems.

Effect of Water on Interfacial Chemical Properties of Nonionic Surfactants in Hydrophobic Ionic Liquid bmimPF6

We studied the effect of water addition on interfacial properties and aggregate behavior of nonionic surfactants (polyoxyethylene alkyl ether; CnEm) in an ionic liquid (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate; bmimPF₆). When a small amount of water was added to mixtures of CnEm and bmimPF₆, two breaking points (cac1, cac2) were observed in the surface tension/CnEm concentration plots, suggesting the formation of two kinds of aggregates. This two-step aggregate formation was also confirmed by the fluorescence probe method using pyrene. The particle size of the aggregates measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS) was around 200 nm at cac1, and decreased to 4 nm above cac2. These results, together with freeze-fracture TEM observations, showed that the aggregate formed at cac1 was water in bmimPF₆ emulsions, which then transformed to micelles solubilizing water in the palisade layer above cac2. This concentration-dependent aggregate formation was supported thermodynamically by studying the dependence of cacs on temperature and alkyl and POE chain lengths of the surfactant.

Inhibition of citral degradation in an acidic aqueous environment by polyoxyethylene alkylether surfactants

Citral is a flavour component widely used in food and cosmetic industries, but is chemically unstable and degrades over time in aqueous solutions due to acid-catalysed and oxidative reactions leading to loss of desirable flavour. The present study reveals the effect of non-ionic micellar solutions of Brij30 and Brij35 on the extent of solubilisation and stabilisation of citral. The rate of chemical degradation of citral in acidic aqueous solutions was found to be highest, which was subsequently reduced significantly within these studied surfactant systems, suggesting protection of citral from an acidic environment once it is incorporated into the micelles. The work concludes that polyoxyethylene alkylether surfactants with lower HLB value, less dense hydrophilic corona and more hydrophobic core volume are efficient in solubilising and stabilising citral against an acidic environment.

Micellar and Interfacial Behavior of Cationic Benzalkonium Chloride and Nonionic Polyoxyethylene Alkyl Ether Based Mixed Surfactant Systems

AbstractMicellar and interfacial properties of mixed surfactant systems comprising benzalkonium chloride, a cationic surfactant and nonionic polyoxyethylene alkyl ether surfactants (POE: C10E7, C10E8, C10E9, C10E10) have been investigated by surface tension, fluorescence and dynamic light scattering techniques. Critical micelle concentration (CMC) for different mixing mole fractions has been investigated by surface tension and fluorescence measurements. Ideal CMC, mixed micellar composition (X1m, X1σ), interaction parameters for mixed micelles (βm) and adsorption monolayer (βσ), surface excess concentration (Гmax), minimum area per molecule (Amin) and related thermodynamic properties have also been determined. Lowering of the CMC and negative interaction parameter values indicate synergism in the mixed micelle and monolayer formed, whereas, thermodynamic parameters evaluated for the proposed mixed systems indicate stability of the resulting micelles and monolayer. Micellar aggregation number (Nagg) and hydrodynamic diameter (Dh) computed from fluorescence and dynamic light scattering measurements respectively illustrate micellar growth in the mixed state. Results obtained for the proposed mixed systems can be helpful in designing smart materials for industrial surfactant based formulations.

Facile Synthesis of Meso/Macroporous Dual Materials with Ordered Mesopores Using Highly Concentrated Emulsions Based on a Cubic Liquid Crystal

A new simple one-step method has been developed to obtain SiO(2) monolithic materials with a bimodal meso- and macroporous pore-size distribution. Sol-gel reactions were carried out in the continuous phase of highly concentrated emulsions with a cubic liquid crystal in this external phase, using a polyoxyethylene alkyl ether surfactant and containing a novel glycol-modified silane, tetra(2-hydroxyethyl) orthosilicate (abbreviated as THEOS). The hydrolysis and condensation reactions of this precursor have been carried out in basic pH, between pH 8.8 and 11.4. Interestingly, the ethylene glycol released during condensation reactions does not affect significantly the structure of the cubic liquid crystalline phase, which was stable during the sol-gel reactions. As a result, the cubic phase based emulsions could template the formation of meso/macroporous dual materials, which possess interconnected polydisperse macropores, between 1 and 5 μm, and cubic-ordered mesopores, with a narrow pore size distribution around 4 nm. Monoliths with a specific surface area higher than 550 m(2) g(-1) and bulk density of 0.16 g cm(-3) have been obtained.