Sorption processes cationic surfactants

Despite these reservations, environmental distribution values may be considered valid for the sorption process, to a first approximation. On this basis, it can be concluded that detected environmental partition coefficients show the clear affinity of surfactants to particulate material. The affinity is higher for cationic surfactants than for other surfactants, as shown by the high partition coefficient values (Table 5.4.1). Partition coefficients are also higher for the water column than for sediments (Table 5.4.1), and it is difficult to offer an explanation for this, bearing in mind the many factors affecting the partition coefficient in both natural water and sediment. 

Most of the results reported herein on the sorption of polycations by natural keratins have been obtained on simplified model systems. The rationale behind such an approach was to seek to determine the fate of sorbing polymer under well-defined conditions and so to obtain mechanistic insight. The results have clearly indicated that both adsorption and absorption processes can occur. They have also shown that the nature, extent, and consequences of polycation sorption can all be influenced by the presence of surfactant. In general, nonionic surfactants have a small effect on sorption, because of low interaction while cationic surfactants can have a very large effect because of competition for the sorption sites. Because of interaction and complex formation with cationic polyelectrolytes anionic surfactants can exercise an intermediate, but potentially very important, influence. 

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