Effects of Chain Length and Structure of Cationic Surfactants on the Adsorption onto Na-Kaolinite

Synergistic interaction between sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) and N,N-dimethyldodecan-1-amine oxide (DDAO) and their adsorption onto activated charcoal and Jordanian natural clay

Solutions of sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) and N,N-dimethyldodecan-1-amine oxide (DDAO) with mole fractions of 0.00, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00 were prepared and their surface tension was measured as a function of total surfactant concentration. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) values of these mixed solutions were also determined. The minimum area occupied by a surfactant molecule at air/water interface was calculated for single and binary surfactant mixtures. A pronounced synergistic interaction between SDBS and DDAO was detected. The surface tension and CMC-values of SDBS/DDAO mixtures are significantly lower than those of the single surfactant. The mixed system of SDBS/DDAO exhibits a highly negative interaction parameter (β = −10.6) according to regular solution model, and is found to fulfill the condition of Hua and Rosen, indicting a strong synergistic interaction between the two surfactants. The contact angle measurements show the wettability of the surfactant mixture onto polyethylene substrate is higher than of the respective single surfactant. In addition, the adsorption of SDBS and DDAO or their mixtures on 1.0% activated carbon and 5.0% Jordanian natural clay (JNC), respectively, was investigated using the depletion method. The individual surfactants were found to adsorb to a considerable extent on activated carbon, and a slightly higher adsorption tendency was even measured for mixed SDBS/DDAO surfactant systems. Although no SDBS molecules adsorbed on JNC, adsorption was observed for solutions containing DDAO and SDBS/DDAO surfactants. The improvement in wettability and adsorption of SDBS/DDAO surfactants at the air/water and solid/water interfaces is directly related to the synergistic interaction between the two surfactants.

Application of an algal growth inhibition assay to determine distribution coefficients of benzalkonium ions between kaolinite and water

Benzalkonium compounds are widely used and found in environmental samples. Due to their amphiphilic nature, it is important to know sorption coefficients to account their bioavailability. However, currently available models describing their partitioning were developed using low molecular weight homologues and it cannot be ascertained whether they are applicable to their higher molecular weight homologues. Reasons for the scarcity of data on highly sorptive compounds include the lack of reliable quantification techniques for analyzing these chemicals at environmentally relevant levels. This study, therefore, reports on an algal growth inhibition assay-based method for the determination of kaolinite/water distribution coefficients for benzalkonium compounds at their environmentally relevant concentration range. Sorption to clay was computed using the difference between median effective concentration determined in a culture with kaolinite and that derived from a culture grown in standard medium. A kinetic model was used to account for uptake into algal cells and to calculate free concentrations. Due to the sensitivity of the algal species, Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, it was possible to determine distribution coefficients below micromole per liter concentrations. The computed distribution coefficients showed a linear increase with number of carbon atoms in the alkyl chain up to 14. The proposed bioassay-based method should be applicable to determine distribution coefficients for highly hydrophobic chemicals and ionic liquids at a concentration range lower than typical analytical limits.

Adsorption of Single and Mixed Surfactants onto Jordanian Natural Clay

The adsorption of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and N,N-dimethyldodecan-1-amine oxide (DDAO) and their mixtures from their solutions, onto Jordanian Natural Clay (JNC) was investigated at room temperature. The clay was firstly analyzed with X-ray fluorescence technique. The surface tension of the single and mixed surfactant solutions was then measured as a function of the total surfactant concentration and the critical micelle concentration (CMC) values of these solutions were determined. The interaction between SDS and DDAO as indicated by their interaction parameter was calculated according to the regular solution model. Adsorption of single surfactants onto 3 % wt/vol Jordanian Natural Clay, using the depletion method, was ultimately investigated. Although no absorbed SDS molecules were found onto the Jordanian Clay, but a pronounced adsorption tendency for DDAO and mixed SDS/DDAO molecules was obtained. The amounts of surfactant adsorbed onto 3 wt/vol% JNC follow the trend: SDS/DDAO > DDAO > SDS indicating the importance of synergistic interaction of surfactants on their adsorption behavior.

Evaluating solid phase (micro-) extraction tools to analyze freely ionizable and permanently charged cationic surfactants

Working with and analysis of cationic surfactants can be problematic since aqueous concentrations are difficult to control, both when taking environmental aqueous samples as well as performing laboratory work with spiked concentrations. For a selection of 32 amine based cationic surfactants (including C8- to C18-alkylamines, C14-dialkyldimethylammonium, C8-tetraalkylammonium, benzalkonium and pyridinium compounds), the extraction from aqueous samples was studied in detail. Aqueous concentrations were determined using solid phase extraction (SPE; 3 mL/60 mg Oasis WCX-SPE cartridges) with recoveries of ≥80% for 30 compounds, and ≥90% for 16 compounds. Sorption to glassware was evaluated in 120 mL flasks, 40 mL vials and 1.5 mL autosampler vials, using 15 mM NaCl, where the glass binding of simple primary amines and quaternary ammonium compounds increased with alkyl chain length. Sorption to the outside of pipette tips (≤20% of total amount in solution) when sampling aqueous solutions may interfere with accurate measurements. Polyacrylate solid phase microextraction (PA-SPME) fibers with two coating thicknesses (7 and 35 μm) were tested as potential extraction devices. The uptake kinetics, pH-dependence and influence of ionic strength on sorption to PA fibers were studied. Changing medium from 100 mM Na⁺ to 10 mM Ca²⁺ decreases K_fw with one order of magnitude. Results indicate that for PA-SPME neutral amines are absorbed rather than adsorbed, although the exact sorption mechanism remains to be elucidated. Further research remains necessary to establish a definitive applicability domain for PA-SPME. However, results indicate that alkyl chain lengths ≥14 carbon atoms and multiple alkyl chains become problematic. A calibration curve should always be measured together with the samples. In conclusion, it seems that for amine based surfactants PA-SPME does not provide the reliability and reproducibility necessary for precise sorption experiments, specifically for alkyl chain lengths beyond 12 carbon atoms.

Surfactant adsorption to soil components and soils

Soils are complex and widely varying mixtures of organic matter and inorganic materials; adsorption of surfactants to soils is therefore related to the soil composition. We first discuss the properties of surfactants, including the critical micelle concentration (CMC) and surfactant adsorption on water/air interfaces, the latter gives an impression of surfactant adsorption to a hydrophobic surface and illustrates the importance of the CMC for the adsorption process. Then attention is paid to the most important types of soil particles: humic and fulvic acids, silica, metal oxides and layered aluminosilicates. Information is provided on their structure, surface properties and primary (proton) charge characteristics, which are all important for surfactant binding. Subsequently, the adsorption of different types of surfactants on these individual soil components is discussed in detail, based on mainly experimental results and considering the specific (chemical) and electrostatic interactions, with hydrophobic attraction as an important component of the specific interactions. Adsorption models that can describe the features semi-quantitatively are briefly discussed. In the last part of the paper some trends of surfactant adsorption on soils are briefly discussed together with some complications that may occur and finally the consequences of surfactant adsorption for soil colloidal stability and permeability are considered. When we seek to understand the fate of surfactants in soil and aqueous environments, the hydrophobicity and charge density of the soil or soil particles, must be considered together with the structure, hydrophobicity and charge of the surfactants, because these factors affect the adsorption. The pH and ionic strength are important parameters with respect to the charge density of the particles. As surfactant adsorption influences soil structure and permeability, insight in surfactant adsorption to soil particles is useful for good soil management.

Acute toxicity of the cationic surfactant C12-benzalkonium in different bioassays: how test design affects bioavailability and effect concentrations

Using an ion-exchange-based solid-phase microextraction (SPME) method, the freely dissolved concentrations of C12-benzalkonium were measured in different toxicity assays, including 1) immobilization of Daphnia magna in the presence or absence of dissolved humic acid; 2) mortality of Lumbriculus variegatus in the presence or absence of a suspension of Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) sediment; 3) photosystem II inhibition of green algae Chlorella vulgaris; and 4) viability of in vitro rainbow trout gill cell line (RTgill-W1) in the presence or absence of serum proteins. Furthermore, the loss from chemical adsorption to the different test vessels used in these tests was also determined. The C12-benzalkonium sorption isotherms to the different sorbent phases were established as well. Our results show that the freely dissolved concentration is a better indicator of the actual exposure concentration than the nominal or total concentration in most test assays. Daphnia was the most sensitive species to C12-benzalkonium. The acute Daphnia and Lumbriculus tests both showed no enhanced toxicity from possible ingestion of sorbed C12-benzalkonium in comparison with water-only exposure, which is in accordance with the equilibrium partitioning theory. Moreover, the present study demonstrates that commonly used sorbent phases can strongly affect bioavailability and observed effect concentrations for C12-benzalkonium. Even stronger effects of decreased actual exposure concentrations resulting from sorption to test vessels, cells, and sorbent phases can be expected for more hydrophobic cationic surfactants.

Sorption of organic cations to phyllosilicate clay minerals: CEC-normalization, salt dependency, and the role of electrostatic and hydrophobic effects

Sorption to the phyllosilicate clay minerals Illite, kaolinite, and bentonite has been studied for a wide variety of organic cations using a flow-through method with fully aqueous medium as the eluent. Linear isotherms were observed at concentrations below 10% of the cation-exchange capacity (CEC) for Illite and kaolinite and below 1 mmol/kg (<1% CEC) for bentonite. Sorption to clays was strongly influenced by the electrolyte composition of the eluent but with a consistent trend for a diverse set of compounds on all clays, thus allowing for empirical correction factors. When sorption affinities for a given compound to a given clay are normalized to the CEC of the clay, the differences in sorption affinities between clays are reduced to less than 0.5 log units for most compounds. Although CEC-normalized sorption of quaternary ammonium compounds to clay was up to 10-fold higher than CEC-normalized sorption to soil organic matter, CEC-normalized sorption for most compounds was comparable between clays and soil organic matter. The clay fraction is thus a potentially relevant sorption phase for organic cations in many soils. The sorption data for organic cations to clay showed several regular trends with molecular structure but also showed quite a few systematic effects that we cannot explain. A model on the basis of the molecular size and charge density at the ionized nitrogen is used here as a tool to obtain benchmark values that elucidate the effect of specific polar moieties on the sorption affinity.

Influence of organic matter type and medium composition on the sorption affinity of C12-benzalkonium cation

We used the 7-μm polyacrylate ion-exchange SPME fibers to investigate C12-benzalkonium sorption to 10 mg/L natural organic matter at concentrations well below the cation-exchange capacity. C12-BAC sorption at constant medium conditions differed within 0.4 log units for two humic acids (Aldrich, Leonardite) and peat (Sphagnum, Pahokee), with similar nonlinear sorption isotherms (KF ∼ 0.8). Sorption to the SPME fibers and Aldrich humic acid (AHA) was reduced at both low pH and high electrolyte concentration, and reduced more strongly by Ca²⁺ compared with Na⁺ at similar concentrations. Sorption isotherms for AHA (5-50-500 mM Na⁺, pH 6) was modeled successfully by the NICA-Donnan approach, resulting in an intrinsic sorption coefficient of 5.35 (Caq = 1 nM). The NICA-Donnan model further explained the stronger specific binding of Ca²⁺ compared to Na⁺ by differences in Boltzmann factors. This study provides relevant information to interpret bioavailability of quaternary ammonium compounds, and possibly for other organic cations.

Surface Activity of Newly Nonionic Surfactants at Air/Water Interface and their Interaction with Clay and Teflon

The surface activity of newly nonionic hydroxyl mixed ether surfactants HMEn at air/water and solid/water interfaces was studied as a function of ethoxylation degree (n-value). The characteristics of this series of nonionic surfactant, including surface tension, critical micelle concentration cmc, adsorption onto hydrophilic saponite clay and hydrophobic Teflon are reported. The surface tension results indicate that cmc, surface tension after γcmc, and the minimum surface area per adsorbed HME-surfactant molecule Amin are all increased with n-value. Results of static light scattering are in agreements with those obtained using surface tension method. For HME-surfactants, strong adsorption measured by surface tension onto the hydrophilic synthetic clay mineral saponite. This result was also observed by atomic force microscopy AFM for HME9.7 onto hydrophilic mica surface. On the other hand, the adsorption of HME-surfactant onto hydrophobic polytetraflouroethylene PTFE (Teflon) is less than that measured onto saponite. However, the adsorption at both surfaces has the same dependency on n-value.

Effects of monovalent cations on the competitive adsorption of perfluoroalkyl acids by kaolinite: experimental studies and modeling

Our hypothesis that longer-chained perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) outcompete shorter-chained PFAAs during adsorption was tested in this study, wherein the adsorption interactions of six frequently detected PFAAs with kaolinite clay were modeled and examined experimentally using various suspension compositions. Competitive adsorption of PFAAs on the kaolinite surface was observed for the first time, and longer-chained PFAAs outcompeted those with a shorter chain. The electrostatic repulsion between adsorbed PFAA molecules is a primary inhibitory factor in PFAA adsorption. An increase in aqueous sodium or hydrogen ion concentration weakened electrostatic repulsions and changed the adsorption free energy. Therefore, the adsorption of a shorter-chained PFAA with weaker hydrophobicity could occur at high sodium or hydrogen ion concentrations. The experimental and modeling data suggest that the adsorption of shorter-chained PFAAs (≤4 perfluorinated carbons) in freshwater with a typical ionic strength of 10(-2.5) is not thermodynamically favorable. Furthermore, by measuring the electrokinetic potential of kaolinite suspension in the presence of PFAAs, we found that the kaolinite surface became more negatively charged because of the adsorption of PFAAs. This observation indicates that the adsorbed PFAA molecules were within the electrical double layer of the kaolinite surface and that they contributed to the potential at the slipping plane. The possible alignments of adsorbed PFAA molecules on the kaolinite surface were then proposed.

Uranium sorption on bentonite modified by octadecyltrimethylammonium bromide

The sorption of U(VI) on octadecyltrimethyl-bentonite was investigated at the pH values of the aqueous phase ranging from 3 to 10 and the concentrations of U(VI): 0.1-1 mmol/dm(3). The concentrations of alkylammonium cation in bentonite were increased from 21% to 150% of CEC (cation exchange capacity). It was determined that the sorption of U(VI) on modified bentonite, i.e. the distribution constant -K(d) decreases with the percent of mineral modification until it attains a minimum at 76% of CEC and then increases again. The effective sorption of U(VI) was found to be in the pH range: 6-10 for the modified bentonite and was explained as the consequence of U(VI) anionic hydroxy complexes sorption. Both FT-IR and XRD spectra of the modified bentonite were analyzed and provided arguments for the existence of surfactant cations in the form of monolayer and bilayer in the interlamellar space of bentonite. In turn the luminescence spectra of bentonite suspensions, i.e. their character at different values of pH, proved the existence of hydroxide-like planar polymeric U(VI) species in the bentonite phase at pH 9.

Effect of molecular structure of cationic surfactants on biophysical interactions of surfactant-modified nanoparticles with a model membrane and cellular uptake

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the molecular structure of cationic surfactants at the nanoparticle (NP) interface influences the biophysical interactions of NPs with a model membrane and cellular uptake of NPs. Polystyrene NPs (surfactant-free, 130 nm) were modified with cationic surfactants. These surfactants were of either dichained (didodecyldimethylammonium bromide [DMAB]) or single-chained (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide [CTAB] and dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide [DTAB]) forms, with the latter two having different hydrophobic chain lengths. Biophysical interactions of these surfactant-modified NPs with an endothelial cell model membrane (EMM) were studied using a Langmuir film balance. Changes in surface pressure (SP) of EMM as a function of time following interaction with NPs and in the compression isotherm (pi-A) of the lipid mixture of EMM in the presence of NPs were analyzed. Langmuir-Schaeffer (LS) films, which are EMMs that have been transferred onto a suitable substrate, were imaged by atomic force microscopy (AFM), and the images were analyzed to determine the mechanisms of the NP-EMM interaction. DMAB-modified NPs showed a greater increase in SP and a shift toward higher mean molecular area (mmA) than CTAB- and DTAB-modified NPs, indicating stronger interactions of DMAB-modified NPs with the EMM. However, analysis of the AFM phase and height images of the LS films revealed that both DMAB- and CTAB-modified NPs interacted with the EMM but via different mechanisms: DMAB-modified NPs penetrated the EMM, thus explaining the increase in SP, whereas CTAB-modified NPs anchored onto the EMM's condensed lipid domains and hence did not cause any significant change in SP. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells showed greater uptake of DMAB- and CTAB-modified NPs than of DTAB-modified or unmodified NPs. We conclude that (i) the dichained and single-chained cationic surfactants on NPs have different mechanisms of interaction with the model membrane and that (ii) NPs that demonstrate greater biophysical interactions with the membrane also show greater cellular uptake. Biophysical interactions of NPs with a model membrane thus could be effectively used for developing nanocarriers with optimized surface properties for drug delivery and imaging applications.

Surfactant-enhanced remediation of organic contaminated soil and water

Surfactant based remediation technologies for organic contaminated soil and water (groundwater or surface water) is of increasing importance recently. Surfactants are used to dramatically expedite the process, which in turn, may reduce the treatment time of a site compared to use of water alone. In fact, among the various available remediation technologies for organic contaminated sites, surfactant based process is one of the most innovative technologies. To enhance the application of surfactant based technologies for remediation of organic contaminated sites, it is very important to have a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in this process. This paper will provide an overview of the recent developments in the area of surfactant enhanced soil and groundwater remediation processes, focusing on (i) surfactant adsorption on soil, (ii) micellar solubilization of organic hydrocarbons, (iii) supersolubilization, (iv) density modified displacement, (v) degradation of organic hydrocarbon in presence surfactants, (vi) partitioning of surfactants onto soil and liquid organic phase, (vii) partitioning of contaminants onto soil, and (viii) removal of organics from soil in presence of surfactants. Surfactant adsorption on soil and/or sediment is an important step in this process as it results in surfactant loss reduced the availability of the surfactants for solubilization. At the same time, adsorbed surfactants will retained in the soil matrix, and may create other environmental problem. The biosurfactants are become promising in this application due to their environmentally friendly nature, nontoxic, low adsorption on to soil, and good solubilization efficiency. Effects of different parameters like the effect of electrolyte, pH, soil mineral and organic content, soil composition etc. on surfactant adsorption are discussed here. Micellar solubilization is also an important step for removal of organic contaminants from the soil matrix, especially for low aqueous solubility organic contaminants. Influences of different parameters such as single and mixed surfactant system, hydrophilic and hydrophobic chain length, HLB value, temperature, electrolyte, surfactant type that are very important in micellar solubilization are reviewed here. Microemulsion systems show higher capacity of organic hydrocarbons solubilization than the normal micellar system. In the case of biodegradation of organic hydrocarbons, the rate is very slow due to low water solubility and dissolution rate but the presence of surfactants may increase the bioavailability of hydrophobic compounds by solubilization and hence increases the degradation rate. In some cases the presence of it also reduces the rate. In addition to fundamental studies, some laboratory and field studies on removal of organics from contaminated soil are also reviewed to show the applicability of this technology.

Can Pickering emulsion formation aid the removal of creosote DNAPL from porous media?

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the proposition that creosote, emplaced in an initially water saturated porous system, can be removed from the system through Pickering emulsion formation. Pickering emulsions are dispersions of two immiscible fluids in which coalescence of the dispersed phase droplets is hindered by the presence of colloidal particles adsorbed at the interface between the two immiscible fluid phases. Particle trapping is strongly favoured when the wetting properties of the particles are intermediate between strong water wetting and strong oil wetting. In this investigation the necessary chemical conditions for the formation of physically stable creosote-in-water emulsions protected against coalescence by bentonite particles were examined. It was established that physically stable emulsions could be formed through the judicious addition of small amounts of sodium chloride and the surfactant cetyl-trimethylammonium bromide. The stability of the emulsions was initially established by visual inspection. However, experimental determinations of emulsion stability were also undertaken by use of oscillatory rheology. Measurements of the elastic and viscous responses to shear indicated that physically stable emulsions were obtained when the viscoelastic systems showed a predominantly elastic response to shearing. Once the conditions were established for the formation of physically stable emulsions a "proof-of-concept" chromatographic experiment was carried out which showed that creosote could be successfully removed from a saturated model porous system.

Influence of clay mineral structure and surfactant nature on the adsorption capacity of surfactants by clays

Adsorption of three surfactants of different nature, Triton X-100 (TX100) (non-ionic), sodium dodecylsulphate (SDS) (anionic) and octadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (ODTMA) (cationic) by four layered (montmorillonite, illite, muscovite and kaolinite) and two non-layered (sepiolite and palygorskite) clay minerals was studied. The objective was to improve the understanding of surfactant behaviour in soils for the possible use of these compounds in remediation technologies of contaminated soils by toxic organic compounds. Adsorption isotherms were obtained using surfactant concentrations higher and lower than the critical micelle concentration (cmc). These isotherms showed different adsorption stages of the surfactants by the clay minerals, and were classified in different subgroups of the L-, S- or H-types. An increase in the adsorption of SDS and ODTMA by all clay minerals is observed up to the cmc of the surfactant in the equilibrium solution is reached. However, there was further TX100 adsorption when the equilibrium concentration was well above the cmc. Adsorption constants from Langmuir and Freundlich equations (TX100 and ODTMA) or Freundlich equation (SDS) were used to compare adsorption of different surfactants by clay minerals studied. These constants indicated the surfactant adsorption by clay minerals followed this order ODTMA>TX100>>SDS. The adsorption of TX100 and ODTMA was higher by montmorillonite and illite, and the adsorption of SDS was found to be higher by kaolinite and sepiolite. Results obtained show the influence of clay mineral structure and surfactant nature on the adsorption capacity of surfactants by clays, and they indicate the interest to consider the soil mineralogical composition when one surfactant have to be selected in order to establish more efficient strategies for the remediation of soils and water contaminated by toxic organic pollutants.

Dispersion stability of a ceramic glaze achieved through ionic surfactant adsorption

The adsorption of cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) and sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS) onto a ceramic glaze mixture composed of limestone, feldspar, quartz, and kaolin has been investigated. Both adsorption isotherms and the average particle zeta potential have been studied in order to understand the suspension stability as a function of pH, ionic strength, and surfactant concentration. The adsorption of small amounts of cationic CPC onto the primarily negatively charged surfaces of the particles at pH 7 and 9 results in strong attraction and flocculation due to hydrophobic interactions. At higher surfactant concentrations a zeta potential of more than +60 mV results from the bilayered adsorbed surfactant, providing stability at salt concentrations < or = 0.01 M. At 0.1 M salt poor stability results despite substantial zeta potential values. Three mechanisms for SDBS adsorption have been identified. When anionic SDBS monomers either adsorb by electrostatic interactions with the few positive surface sites at high pH or adsorb onto like charged negative surface sites due to dispersion or hydrophobic interactions, the magnitude of the negative zeta potential increases slightly. At pH 9 this increase is enough to promote stability with an average zeta potential of more than -55 mV, whereas at pH 7 the zeta potential is lower at about -45 mV. The stability of suspensions at pH 7 is additionally due to steric repulsion caused by the adsorption of thick layers of neutrally charged Ca(DBS)2 complexes created when the surfactant interacts with dissolved calcium ions from the calcium carbonate component.

A review on experimental studies of surfactant adsorption at the hydrophilic solid-water interface

The progresses of understanding of the surfactant adsorption at the hydrophilic solid-liquid interface from extensive experimental studies are reviewed here. In this respect the kinetic and equilibrium studies involves anionic, cationic, non-ionic and mixed surfactants at the solid surface from the solution. Kinetics and equilibrium adsorption of surfactants at the solid-liquid interface depend on the nature of surfactants and the nature of the solid surface. Studies have been reported on adsorption kinetics at the solid-liquid interface primarily on the adsorption of non-ionic surfactant on silica and limited studies on cationic surfactant on silica and anionic surfactant on cotton and cellulose. The typical isotherm of surfactants in general, can be subdivided into four regions. Four-regime isotherm was mainly observed for adsorption of ionic surfactant on oppositely charged solid surface and adsorption of non-ionic surfactant on silica surface. Region IV of the adsorption isotherm is commonly a plateau region above the CMC, it may also show a maximum above the CMC. Isotherms of four different regions are discussed in detail. Influences of different parameters such as molecular structure, temperature, salt concentration that are very important in surfactant adsorption are reviewed here. Atomic force microscopy study of different surfactants show the self-assembly and mechanism of adsorption at the solid-liquid interface. Adsorption behaviour and mechanism of different mixed surfactant systems such as anionic-cationic, anionic-non-ionic and cationic-non-ionic are reviewed. Mixture of surface-active materials can show synergistic interactions, which can be manifested as enhanced surface activity, spreading, foaming, detergency and many other phenomena.