Performance of Φ-Sulfo Fatty Methyl Ester Sulfonate Versus Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate,Secondary Alkane Sulfonate and α-Sulfo Fatty Methyl Ester Sulfonate

Sulfoxidation of fatty acid methyl esters with SO_2, O₂ and ultraviolet light of appropriate wavelength, has led to the synthesis of methyl esters sulfonates or sulfoxylates, known as Φ-MES, because of the possible random position of SO₃ group in the alkyl chain. Aqueous solutions based on the sulfoxylated methyl ester of palmitic acid (Φ-MES C16) have been studied and compared to the leading types of surfactants used today: linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) secondary alkane sulfonate (SAS) and α-sulfo fatty methyl ester sulfonate (α-MES) with regard to solubility, performance and skin compatibility. The experimental results obtained indicate that Φ-MES C16 can be regarded as a potential component of detergent formulations and most likely also of body care products.

Acquisition of Water Solubility Diagrams in Ternary Systems (AOT/Organic Solvent/Alcohol) and Extraction of α-Lactalbumin Using Reverse Micellar Systems

In this study water solubility curves were constructed and calorimetric measurements obtained for reverse micellar systems consisting of an alcohol (isopropanol or butanol), surfactant (AOT) and organic solvent (isooctane or hexane). Also evaluated were the effects of alcohol and solvent type and surfactant concentration on the extraction of the α-lactalbumin (α–la). From the obtained solubility diagrams for ternary systems, it was concluded that isooctane presented the highest water solubility capacity in the center of the micelle systems with hexane, since isooctane has greater molecular volume and greater effect of the surfactant aggregation number. With respect to the alcohols, it was observed that isopropanol and butanol act in the system as a co-surfactant, since they prefer to adsorb at the water/solvent interface. It was also verified that butanol improved water solubility inside the reverse micellar due to its contribution to increase the critical packing parameter. The amount of α-la extracted increased proportionally with the AOT concentration for systems with isooctane and hexane. However, for systems with the latter solvent, the concentration of extracted protein first increases and then decreases. The extraction power of reverse micellar systems with isooctane was influenced by the type of alcohol with butanol showing better results. For systems containing hexane there was no effect of the alcohol added to the system on extraction power of α-lactalbumin.     

The Effect of Counterions of Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate on Skin Compatibility

Interactions of a widely used commercial anionic surfactant, linear alkylbenzene sulfonate, with zein protein, a water insoluble protein, was studied to better understand the effects of the counterion on skin irritation of anionic surfactants. The neutralizing ions used were inorganics: Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, and NH₄⁺ and organics: monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, and triethanolamine. According to the results obtained, the influence of counterions of anionic surfactants on zein solubilization is significant; with magnesium counterions showing lower zein solubilization. In aqueous solutions, zein solubilization by anionic surfactant is related to the effect of the counterion on the critical micelle concentration of the surfactant for the inorganic counter‐ions; for the organic counter‐ions, effects of tighter anionic binding in the micelle also contribute to zein solubilization trends.     

Foaming Properties of Commercial Lauramide Amide Oxide in High‐Salinity Water

The original purpose of our work was finding commercial foaming agents for high‐salinity reservoirs. During the study, the commercial lauramide amide oxide solution displayed different foaming properties in high‐salinity water (salinity 220,000 mg/L) at different aging times and relatively low temperature (25 °C). Foam volume decreases drastically first with the increase of aging time. Then, with further aging, foam volume increases. However, in low‐salinity water or at high temperature, no obvious foam volume variation was observed. Lauric acid in the commercial surfactant plays a key role. Under proper temperature and pH conditions, lauric acid will react with Ca²⁺. Calcium laurate generated from lauric acid in the commercial form and Ca²⁺ from water influences the foaming property significantly. At the beginning of calcium laurate generation, surfactants adsorb on calcium laurate and decelerate the diffusion velocity of lauramide amide oxide from the bulk phase to the air–water interface. With the increase of aging time, calcium laurate gathers, thus adsorption of lauramide amide oxide by calcium laurate decreases. Hence, the foaming volume increases.     

A Novel Study on the Gel Phase Formed in a Catanionic Surfactant System

A novel gel phase was constructed in a catanionic surfactant system with the compositions of 1-tetradecyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (C₁₄mimCl) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The gel phases were studied through visual observations, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), rheological measurements, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The visual observation and DSC confirmed the formation of gels and phase transitions from gel to sol. The dynamic rheological results showed the viscoelastic properties of gels. The SEM technique was used to further indicate the microstructure of gels. Finally, the formation mechanisms of gels are proposed based on the critical packing parameter. We expect to develop a new route to construct the gels.     

A 1D- and 2D-NMR Study of an Anionic Surfactant/Neutral Polymer Complex

NMR chemical shifts and linewidth measurements were examined for mixtures of sodium 10-phenyldecanoate (Na ω-PhDec) in deuterated aqueous solutions in the presence of varying compositions of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) polymers of 2000 and 4000 molecular weight. In addition, variable temperature NMR spectra and NMR spin lattice relaxation times (T ₁) were obtained for the PEO-4000/Na ω-PhDec system as a function of varying polymer concentrations. As expected, the polymer/surfactant systems exhibit the behaviour typical of that of an anionic surfactant/neutral polymer system with well defined critical aggregation concentrations (CMC) corresponding to the formation of polymer/surfactant complexes below the CMC of the free surfactant. The ¹H-NMR linewidths acquired for the Na ω-PhDec/PEO-4000 system before and after the CMC region of the surfactant indicate that the maximum in the linewidth of the PEO proton peak is reached at approximately twice the CMC of the free surfactant. 2D-NMR NOESY measurements on this system exhibit cross peaks between the PEO protons and the protons on the surfactant backbone, consistent with the location of the phenyl group in the micellar interior. All these NMR experiments are interpreted in terms of the structure of the polymer/surfactant complexes as a function of the system composition.

Kinetic Analysis of the Ozonation Process of the Surfactant LAS Considering the Simultaneous Foaming Effect

Advanced oxidation processes (AOP) are able to degrade pollutants into harmless substances. To demonstrate the successful application of AOP to real, polluted effluents, ozonation has been applied for the removal of linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS), a surfactant mixture commonly used in detergent formulation. LAS can be identified in a wide range of concentrations, i.e., in domestic wastewater or in the raw effluent of detergent-processing plants. The strongly tensoactive nature of LAS results in a foaming effect that eventually discourages AOP application, especially in the case of ozonation. The primary goal of this research is to analyze the LAS ozonation kinetics, considering the simultaneous effect of foam formation, by the development of a semiempirical model that is mainly based on the foaming phenomenon. Along with foaming, the proposed model also considers LAS removal by ozonation and the inverse phenomenon of LAS formation by redissolution of LAS. To the best of our knowledge, such a finding has not been previously reported. The proposed foaming model has been developed within various pH and LAS concentration values, primarily examining the initial pH value of the effluent due to its significant effect on foaming. The developed model adequately predicts the LAS concentration profiles measured in the liquid during ozonation. Moreover, this approach makes it possible to quantify the incidence of foaming and LAS redissolution during ozonation comparatively, leading to being able to propose the most desirable operating conditions for LAS removal.     

Removal of Direct Yellow 27 Dye by Ionic Flocculation: The Use of an Environmentally Friendly Surfactant

The presence of dyes is one of the main contributors to the organic load in textile effluents. In this study a mixture of surfactants, produced from animal/vegetable fats, was used to remove the Direct Yellow 27 dye from a synthetic wastewater through an ionic flocculation process. It was evaluated the effect of contact time, temperature, and surfactant concentration on dye removal efficiency. It was also evaluated the kinetics, equilibrium, and diffusion mechanism of the process. The kinetics of the process was well described by both Pseudo-second order and Elovich models. The transport of dye molecules to the surfactant flocs is controlled by the external layer. Equilibrium data showed a good fit to the Langmuir model. A removal rate of 93% was achieved in a single stage, after 5 h of contact time.     

The Irritant Effects of Pharmaceutically Applied Surfactants

Dermal or transdermal medication may lead to irritant contact dermatitis. However, little information is available on the irritant effect of surfactants which are applied in topical formulations. Our aim was to examine the irritant effect of the most frequent compounds in topical products. A murine model was applied. The following compounds were examined: sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), polyethoxylated (40EO) hydrogenated castor oil and sucrose laurate. SLS led to severe erythema, increase in transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and induced necrosis and accumulation of neutrophylic granulocytes and lymphocytes. Exposure to sucrose laurate resulted in an elevation of TEWL, but histology did not reveal impairment of the skin structure. Application of polyethoxylated (40EO) hydrogenated castor oil was not accompanied by tissue damage. Special attention should be paid to the irritant effect of SLS. Polyethoxylated (40EO) hydrogenated castor oil seems to be a non-irritant agent and sucrose laurate is also a promising candidate for application in topical preparations.     

Surfactant Enhanced Oil Recovery in a High Temperature and High Salinity Carbonate Reservoir

The goal of this work was to find an effective surfactant system for enhanced oil recovery after water injection substituting for oil at a vuggy fractured reservoir with a high temperature and high salinity (220,000 mg/L). Four types of surfactants with concentrations (less than 0.2 %) were screened. Washing oil experiments were conducted in Amott cells. A surfactant system was established by mixing a surfactant with best ultimate recovery and one with best recovery rate. The optimized surfactant system could recover 50 % of remaining oil. To study the mechanism of enhanced oil recovery after water injection substituting oil, interfacial tension (IFT) and contact angle were measured. Experimental results showed that surfactants with good washing ability had low IFT, but surfactants with low IFT may not have a good washing ability. IFT had no obvious relationship with the increased oil recovery or washing ability. The optimized system could not alter carbonate to decrease the oil‐wetting capability. Though octadecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride had a good ability wet the carbonate with water, it could not recover much oil. Therefore, except for interfacial tension and wettability alteration, there must be other parameters dominating oil recovery after water injection substituting for oil.     

Synthesis,Characterization, and Evaluation of Ethoxylated Lauryl-Myrisityl Alcohol Nonionic Surfactants as Wetting Agents,Anti-Foamers,and Minimum Film Forming Temperature Reducers in Emulsion Polymer Lattices

Two nonionic FAEO (fatty alcohol ethoxylated) surfactants with varying solubility were obtained by the reaction of lauryl-myrisityl alcohol (LMA) with ethylene oxide to yield lauryl-myristyl/alcohol ethoxylated with 3 and 31 mol of ethylene oxide by changing the length of polyethylene glycol segment. The prepared surfactants, designated as LMAEO-3 and LMAEO-31, were characterized for their structures using spectroscopic measurements; in addition, their surface properties were investigated. The results indicated that LMAEO-31 exhibits excellent surface activity. Evaluation of the surfactants as wetting agents, anti-foamers, and minimum film forming temperature (MFFT) reducer in emulsion polymer lattices achieved promising results indicating high performance in the mentioned industrial applications.     

Review on Anionic/Cationic Surfactant Mixtures

It is commonly known that cationic and anionic surfactants cannot be mixed without the risk of precipitation or instability. However, many studies have shown that not only is it possible to combine cationic and anionic surfactants, but also that this combination can present synergic properties. Mixtures of anionic and cationic surfactants have many unique properties that can be very useful when used properly. The aim of this report is to present relevant information concerning the interaction between anionic and cationic surfactants. A bibliographic review on anionic/cationic mixtures is presented here in order to better understand their properties and possible synergic effects, as this is of practical importance for the chemical industry.

Dissolution of Soap Scum by Surfactant Part I: Effects of Chelant and Type of Soap Scum

The equilibrium solubilities of two model soap scums [calcium stearate and magnesium stearate: Ca(C₁₈)₂ and Mg(C₁₈)₂] were measured in aqueous solutions containing three different types of surfactants: methyl ester sulfonate (MES) as an anionic; alcohol ethoxylate (EO9) as a nonionic; and dimethyldodecylamine oxide (DDAO) as an amphoteric with and without a chelating agent [disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (Na₂EDTA)]. The solubility of calcium soap scum was generally higher than that of magnesium soap scum, the exception being some DDAO systems. The use of the DDAO surfactant with the Na₂EDTA chelating agent at high pH gives the highest solubilities of both studied soap scums. The soap scum solubility is on the order of 2,000 times that in water at high pH. The DDAO is the most effective surfactant under all conditions. The MES is more effective than the EO9 at low pH with the opposite trend observed at high pH. The synergism from added chelant is generally greater at higher pH and is greatest for DDAO followed by EO9.     

Analysis of the Effects of Hydrocarbon Chain on Foam Properties of Alkyl Polyglycosides

The influence of surfactant structure on foam properties of different alkyl polyglycosides (APGs) in aqueous solutions was studied. Foamability, foam stability, and foam morphology were analyzed using the FoamScan method. Results showed that the foamability, foam stability, and the liquid carrying ability of long-chain APGs are higher than those of short-chain APGs. Foam morphology analysis showed that the foam produced by short-chain APGs is more unstable than the foam generated by long-chain APGs. Long-chain APGs have stronger intermolecular cohesion force, stringency, and ductility than short-chain APGs.