1,3-Butanediol as a co-solvent for the surfactant solutions

Tensiometric and rheological investigations of single and mixed systems consisting of cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) in aqueous solutions

The surface tension (σ), critical micelle concentration (CMC), surface excess (Γ), minimum area occupied by a surfactant molecule (A min), the viscosity and oscillatory rheological studies of aqueous solutions containing cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) and sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) at molar fractions of 0.00, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00 and 25 °C were presented. CAPB and SDBS were not found to interact synergistically in water at any of the molar fractions studied. This is due to the fact that the critical micelle concentrations of these mixtures were higher than those predicted by Clint’s equation, indicating an antagonism that rarely occurs in mixed amphoteric/anionic surfactant systems. The minimum area occupied by a surfactant molecule (A min) was reduced in CAPB/SDBS mixtures compared to unmixed surfactants. In contrast, the viscosity of the mixed CAPB/SDBS system increased significantly from 1.0 mPa s to a maximum of 36.0 Pa s at higher CAPB mole fractions (0.5–0.8). The rheograms obtained from the oscillation measurements of the viscous CAPB/SDBS solutions are characteristic of wormlike micelles (WLMs) according to the Maxwell model. The results of this surprising binary CAPB/SDBS surfactant mixing system are presented and discussed.

Dilute hydrochloric acid induced switching from antagonism to synergism in the binary mixed systems of cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS)

A synergism is reported in the binary mixtures of cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) at mole fractions of 0.25, 0.50, and 0.75, in dilute hydrochloric acid solutions (∼0.05 M) HCl, at 25 °C. Such synergism is confirmed by surface tension values, critical micelle concentration (CMC), and interaction parameter values according to Holland and Rubingh’s model and the satisfaction of Hua and Rosen conditions. Surface excess (Γ) at air/water interface and the minimum area occupied by surfactant molecule (A min) also indicated a reduction in the A min of mixed CAPB/SDBS compared to single surfactants that is due to the strong electrostatic interaction between surfactants heads. The composition of CAPB/SDBS mixed micelles, the interaction parameter (β) and the micellar activity coefficients (f 1 and f 2) were evaluated from the regular solution model for these binary amphoteric/anionic mixed systems. It is clear the CAPB surfactants are converted to the cationic form by charging in the presence of HCl, which enhances the interaction between the oppositely charged CAPB and SDBS heads and overcomes the unfavourable packing between the tails predicted in pure water. Such strong interaction was also reflected on the phase behavior of CAPB/SDBS binary mixed system. Accordingly, a switching from antagonism to synergism is reported for CAPB/SDBS binary mixed system in the presence of dilute hydrochloric acid.

Effect of 1,2-propanediol on the Critical Micelle Concentration of Decyltrimethylammonium Bromide at Temperatures from 293.15 K to 308.15 K

It is well known that polar organic compounds, such as alcohols and polyols, exert an appreciable influence on water structure and thus have important effects on surfactant micellization. These substances are often used to modify the properties of surfactants in aqueous solutions, increasing the practical applications they have in diverse industries. In this work, the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of decyltrimethylammonium bromide (C₁₀TAB) in water and in 1,2-propanediol aqueous solutions was determined from both sound velocity and surface tension measurements as a function of surfactant concentration in the temperature range of (293.15 to 308.15) K. The critical micelle concentration of the surfactant increases as the concentration of 1,2-propanediol becomes higher, while the effect on temperature does not show important changes within the range considered. At the selected temperatures, the standard thermodynamic parameters of micellization suggests that the addition of 1,2-propanediol makes the micellization process less favorable. Thermodynamic analysis suggests that the micelle formation of C₁₀TAB is an entropy-driven process at the temperatures considered in this study.