Properties of mixed surfactant

Mixed surfactant systems are of importance from a fundamental and practical point of view. Therefore, many recent papers have reported on the micellar properties of mixed surfactant solutions. For example, Tokiwa et al. have measured the NMF spectra W Ingram has measured surface tension ( 5). Previously, we have reported the solution properties of anionic-nonlonlc surfactant mixed systems from the point of view of electrical (., 7) and surface tension measurements (8-10), and investigated the mixed micelle formation. 

OGINO AND ABE Solution Properties of Mixed Surfactant Systems... 

The second factor, namely the head group interaction, can also influence the surface properties of mixed surfactant markedly. In particular, anionic/catlonic surfactant mixtures exhibit the largest effect (17,18). In nonionic/anionic surfactant mixtures, synergistic effects can still take place to a significant extent, as revealed in Figure 3 (pH 10.9, nonionic amine oxide with anionic long chain sulfate), since insertion of nonionic surfactant molecules into an ionic surfactant molecular assembly minimises electrostatic repulsion (19). 

The gas/liquid and liquid/liquid systems are relevant to biomedical and engineering applications. The large interfacial area in foams, macro- and microemulsions is suitable for rapid mass transfer from gas to liquid or liquid to gas in foams and from one liquid to another or vice versa in macro- and microemulsions. The formation and stability of these systems may be influenced by the chain length compatibility which may also influence the flow through porous media behavior of these systems. Therefore, the present communication deals with the effect of chain length compatibility on the properties of monolayers, foams, macro- and microemulsions. An attempt is made to correlate the chain length compatibility effects with surface properties of mixed surfactants and their flow behavior in porous media in relation to enhanced oil recovery. 

Blankschtein and co-workers [65] have done pioneer work through theoretical modeling, aided by the computer, to predict the properties of mixed surfactant systems. Also, based on the necklace model proposed by Shirahama et al. [67,68], they have proposed a molecular thermodynamic theory of the com-plexation of nonionic polymers and surfactants in diluted aqueous solutions [66], Application of this method can help predict the interaction parameters for several nonionic polymer-surfactant mixtures. 

R.K. Mitra, B.K. Pal, and S.P. Moulik 2006 Phase behavior, interfacial composition and thermodynamic properties of mixed surfactant (CTAB and Brij-58) derived w/o microemulsions with 1-butanol and 1-pentanol as cosurfactants and n-heptane and -decane as oils, J. Colloid Interf. Sci. 300, 755-764. 

Abe, M., Tsubaki, N., Ogino, K. Solution properties of mixed surfactant system. V. The effect of alkyl groups in anionic surfactant on surface tension of anionic-non-ionic surfactant systems. J. Colloid Interface Sci. 1985,107(2), 503-508. 

FIG. 12 Effect of coulombic attraction between polar groups of surfactants and chain length compatibility on T2 or micellar stability and other interfacial properties of mixed surfactant solutions. The dashed line represents the specific property of 100 mM pure SDS solution. 

Depending upon the physical properties of a surfactant (component), removal from the mixed liquor is further possible through precipitation of insoluble salts and adsorption onto solids or bacterial floes, which, in turn, are subsequently withdrawn with the excess sludge [53]. In particular, intact or partly degraded low water-soluble surfactants are eliminated by this route. 

Zhang et al. [135] have studied the physicochemical behavior of mixtures of -dodecyl-/l-D-maltoside with anionic, cationic and nonionic surfactants in aqueous solutions. To acquire information on the property of mixed micelles, the characteristic change of pyrene with changes in polarity was monitored. The polarity parameter at low concentrations was found to be 0.5-0.6. 

The chemical equilibrium model of Roux et al (6) is a powerful tool for the study of the thermodynamics of mixed micellar solutions. It can estimate the distribution constant of the surfactant 3 between water and micelles of the surfactant 2 and the thermodynamic properties of the surfactant 3 in the mixed micelles. For this it is necessary to obtain reliable data over a large concentration range of solute 2. 

The conditions for synergism in surface tension reduction efficiency, mixed micelle formation, and Surface tension reduction effectiveness in aqueous solution have been derived mathematically together with the properties of the surfactant mixture at the point of maximum synergism. This treatment has been extended to liquid-liquid (aqueous solution/hydrocarbon) systems at low surfactant concentrations.) The effect of chemical structure and molecular environment on the value of B is demonstrated and discussed. 

As the temperature of a mixed surfactant system is increased above its cloud point, the coacervate (concentrated) phase may go from a concentrated micellar solution mixed ionic/nonionic systems, it would be of interest to measure thermodynamic properties of mixing in this coacervate as this temperature increased to see if the changes from micelle to concentrated coacervate were continuous or if discontinuities occurred at certain temperatures/compositions. The similarities and differences between the micelle and coacervate could be made clearer by such an experiment. 

Korner, D., Benita, S., Albrecht, G., and Baszkin, A. (1994), Surface properties of mixed phospholipid-stearylamine monolayers and their interaction with a non-ionic surfactant (poloxamer), Coll. Surf. B Biolnterf, 3,101-109. 

The set of equations in the table may serve as starting points for further analyses. We note in passing that these equations are general and phenomenological no assumption whatever has been made about the properties of the surfactants, neither was it necessary to make a restriction with respect to the phase properties (i.e. one homogeneous phase or more phases at equilibrium with each other). There was no need either to make special provisions for charged mono-layers, because all double layers are electroneutral, the Donnan exclusion being accounted for by Extension to mixed monolayers (two surfactants) is... 

The study of structures and properties of mixed micelles formed from different types of surfactants and surfactants with biological compounds and with polymers, by various methods, is a topic of intense research. 

Table I shows various surface and microscopic properties such as surface tension, surface viscosity, foaminess (i.e. foam volume generated in a given time) and bubble size in foams of the surfactant solutions as a function of chain length compatibility. The results indicate that a minimum in surface tension, a maximum in surface viscosity, a maximum in foaminess and a minimum in bubble size were observed when both the components of the mixed surfactant system have the same chain length. These results clearly show that the molecular packing at air-water interface influences surface properties of the surfactant solutions, which can influence microscopic characteristics of foams. The effect of chain length compatibility on microscopic and surface properties of surfactant solutions can be explained as reported in the previous section.

Table I. Effect of Properties Chain Length Compatibility on of Mixed Surfactant Solutions Surface ...

The relations between synergism (or antagonism) in the fundamental properties of mixed monolayer formation at an interface or mixed micelle formation in solution and synergism in various practical applications of surfactants is still a relatively unexplored area. Some studies have probed this area, but much remains to be known. 

We now turn to the more complex situation where both polyelectrolytes and surfactant are present in solution and adsorption is allowed to occur from this mixture. Polyelectrolyte and surfactant mixtures are used in numerous applications such as pharmaceuticals, laundry, and cosmetics, just to mention a few [4], Sometimes polyelectrolytes and surfactants are unintentionally mixed and due to mutual interaction provide unexpected properties to the mixture. Sometimes they are purposefully added together to fill the function of changing the properties and feel of surfaces, e.g., hair or fabrics, or to act as deposition aids. It is thus important to understand how these mixtures act when they are first mixed in bulk and subsequently transferred to a surface, and how the properties of polyelectrolyte-surfactant aggregates formed in bulk correlate with the properties of such aggregates adsorbed at a solid-liquid interface. Further, it is necessary to learn what happens with the polyelectrolyte-surfactant mixture at the surface when it is diluted with water. 

It may be concluded that the theory presented for single ionic surfactants can be extended to predict the surface properties of mixed ionic surfactant solutions from the characteristic parameters of the single surfactants. 

Many industrial products use mixtures of both surfactant and polymer molecules or surfactant and colloid. Although the effects of polymer on the phase behavior and structure of surfactant phases have begun to be investigated in microemulsions, lamellar phases, and vesicle phases, further experimental work in mixed systems is necessary to understand how the polymer or the colloid modifies the elastic properties of the surfactant film. 

Figure 9. Effect of Molecular Properties (e.g. Chain Length Compatibility) of Mixed Surfactants on Surface Properties of Foaming Agents, Bubble Size and Heavy Oil Recovery in Porous Media.

Many mixtures of surfactants, especially ionic with nonionic, exhibit surface properties significantly better than do those obtained with either component alone. Such synergistic effects greatly improve many technological applications in areas such as emulsion formulations, emulsion polymerization, surface tension reduction, coating operations, personal care and cosmetics products, pharmaceuticals, and petroleum recovery, to name only a few. The use of mixed surfactant systems should always be considered as a method for obtaining optimal performance in any practical surfactant application. 

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