Effect of Adding an Amphiphilic Solubilization Improver, Sucrose Distearate, on the Solubilization Capacity of Nonionic Microemulsions

Calcium Carbonate@silica Composite with Superhydrophobic Properties

In this paper, spherical calcium carbonate particles were prepared by using CaCl₂ aqueous solution + NH₃·H₂O + polyoxyethylene octyl phenol ether-10 (OP-10) + n-butyl alcohol + cyclohexane inverse micro emulsion system. Then, nanoscale spherical silica was deposited on the surface of micron calcium carbonate by Stöber method to form the composite material. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to characterize the morphology and structure of the composite material. It is found that the surface of the composite material has a micro-nano complex structure similar to the surface of a “lotus leaf”, making the composite material show hydrophobicity. The contact angle of the cubic calcium carbonate, spherical calcium carbonate and CaCO₃@SiO₂ composite material were measured. They were 51.6°, 73.5°, and 76.8°, respectively. After modification with stearic acid, the contact angle of cubic and spherical CaCO₃ were 127.1° and 136.1°, respectively, while the contact angle of CaCO₃@SiO₂ composite was 151.3°. These results showed that CaCO₃@SiO₂ composite had good superhydrophobicity, and the influence of material roughness on its hydrophobicity was investigated using the Cassie model theory.

Physicochemical investigation of mixed surfactant microemulsions: water solubilization, thermodynamic properties, microstructure, and dynamics

In this contribution, we report on a systematic investigation of phase behavior and solubilization of water in water-in-heptane or decane aggregates stabilized by mixtures of polyoxyethylene (20) cetyl ether (Brij-58) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) surfactants with varying compositions in conjugation with 1-pentanol (Pn) at fixed surfactant(s)/Pn ratio and temperature. Synergism in water solubilization was evidenced by the addition of CTAB to Brij-58 stabilized system in close proximity of equimolar composition in both oils. An attempt has been made to correlate composition dependent water solubilization and volume induced conductivity studies to provide insight into the solubilization mechanism of these mixed systems. Conductivity studies reveal the ascending curve in water solubilization capacity-(Brij-58:CTAB, w/w) profile as the interdroplet interaction branch indicating percolation of conductance and the descending curve is a curvature branch due to the rigidity of the interface in these systems. The microstructure of these systems as a function of surfactant composition has been determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) measurements. FTIR study reveals increase and decrease in relative population of bound and bulk-like water, respectively, with increase in Brij-58:CTAB (w/w). DLS measurements showed that the droplet hydrodynamic diameter (Dh) decreases significantly with the increase in Brij-58:CTAB (w/w). Further, the interfacial composition and energetic parameters for the transfer of Pn from bulk oil to the interface were evaluated by the dilution method. Formation of temperature-insensitive microemulsions and temperature invariant droplet sizes are evidenced in the vicinity of the equimolar composition. The results are interpreted in terms of a proposed mechanism.

Properties of Microemulsions with Mixed Nonionic Surfactants and Mint Oil

In this study we used electrical conductivity, dynamic viscosity, dynamic light scattering, and small angle X-ray scattering for the characterization of the water + propylene glycol/sucrose laurate/ethoxylated mono-di-glyceride/peppermint oil microemulsion systems. The maximum water solubilization in the peppermint oil was found to be dependent on the surfactants mixing ratio (w/w). A Static percolation threshold was determined. The activation energy of conductive flow depends on the surfactants mixing ratio. The hydrodynamic diameter of the diluted microemulsions decreases with the increase in temperature. The periodicity d of the microemulsions increases with the increase in the aqueous phase content. The correlation length ξ increases and decreases with the increase in the aqueous phase content indicating the onset of structural transitions.

Microemulsions as reaction media for the synthesis of mixed oxide nanoparticles: relationships between microemulsion structure, reactivity, and nanoparticle characteristics

Phase behavior, dynamics, and structure of W/O microemulsions of the system aqueous solution/Synperonic 13_6.5/1-hexanol/isooctane were studied, with the goal of determining their effect on Mn-Zn ferrite nanoparticle formation, kinetics and characteristics. Microemulsion structure and dynamics were studied systematically by conductivity, dynamic light scattering (DLS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). The main effect of cosurfactant 1-hexanol was a decrease in microemulsion regions as compared to the systems without cosurfactant; nevertheless, overlap of microemulsion regions in the systems with precursor salts (PS) and precipitating agent (PA) was achieved at lower S/O ratios, compared to the system without cosurfactant. At 50 °C, PA microemulsions are nonpercolated, while PS microemulsions are percolated. SANS indicates small prolate ellipsoidal micelles with the absence of free water up to 18 wt % PS solution; DSC studies confirm the absence of free water in this composition range. Kinetic studies show an increase in the reaction rate with increasing concentration of the aqueous solution; but the most significant effect in reaction kinetics was noted when cosurfactant was used, regardless of microemulsion dynamics and structure. On the other hand, the main difference regarding the characteristics of the obtained nanoparticles was observed when bicontinuous microemulsions were used as reaction media which resulted in 8 nm nanoparticles, versus a constant size of ~4 nm obtained with all other microemulsions regardless of aqueous solution content, dynamics, and presence or absence of cosurfactant. The latter effect of constant size is attributed to the fact that the water present is dominantly bound to the EO units of the surfactant.

Formulation and characterization of microemulsions based on mixed nonionic surfactants and peppermint oil

Water/sucrose laurate/ethoxylated mono-di-glyceride/ethanol/peppermint oil microemulsion systems were formulated and characterized using electrical conductivity, dynamic viscosity, nuclear magnetic resonance, dynamic light scattering, small angle X-ray scattering and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy. The solubilization capacity of water in the oil is dependent on the surfactants and ethanol/oil mixing ratios (w/w). Static percolation phenomena were observed in these systems, and the water volume fraction percolation threshold was determined. A progressive transformation of the water-in-oil to bicontinuous and inversion to oil-in-water microemulsions occurs upon dilution with water, which was revealed by the determination of the diffusion coefficients of both oil and water inside the microemulsions. The diffusion coefficients of the surfactants at the interface of the microemulsions increase with increasing water volume fraction. The periodicity of the microemulsions increases linearly with increasing water volume fraction. In addition, the correlation length increases with water volume fraction to a certain value then decreases. Cryo-TEM images of the oil-in-water microemulsions revealed the presence of spheroidal droplets of up to 12 nm diameter.

An investigation on liver-targeting microemulsions of norcantharidin

Based on the clinical fact that norcantharidin (NCTD) injection frequently causes urinary organ damnification, we prepared a NCTD w/o microemulsion as an alternative to improve the solubility and enhance the live uptake of NCTD. The optimal microemulsion formulation consisted of 7% water, 45% soybean lecithin/ethanol (2:1), and ethyl oleate, with the droplet size of 44.5 +/- 8.6 nm. Pharmacokinetics study showed that NCTD microemulsion had relatively longer circulating time in mice than NCTD injection after a single intravenous injection at a dose of 5 mg/kg. Moreover, the overall drug targeting efficiency of liver was enhanced from 3.66% to 6.10%. These results suggest that a NCTD microemulsion system is a promising candidate for the treatment of hepatogenic diseases.