Characterization of porous textures in order to explain the influence of a surfactant on the end-use properties of detergent tablets

The functional characteristics (mechanical strength, disintegration and dissolution times) of effervescent detergent tablets containing chlorine provider were investigated according to the presence of a surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS). Tablets were compared for similar total porosity. The end-use property study highlighted that the presence of 2% of sodium dodecyl sulphate was not favorable to the tablet mechanical characteristics, inducing a lower “bonding ability”. The linear relationship between the disintegration and dissolution times showed that the disintegration time was relevant to express the behavior of the tablets in water. The disintegration data showed two zones: when porosity was higher than 20%, the disintegration time was always lower than 2 min g⁻¹ and similar for both formulas; for lower porosities, the disintegration time increased and was higher in the presence of the surfactant. In this second case, the released CO₂ due to the reaction between adipic acid and sodium bicarbonate in water was slowed down in the presence of the surfactant, confirming the disintegration data. However, this negative effect of SDS on the disintegration time could not be linked to a difference of pore size distribution between the two formulas. So, despite the creation of weak interparticle bonds with the other compounds of the formula, the presence of SDS increased the disintegration by limiting the water uptake, independently of the porous texture. Moreover, no preferential localization of the surfactant at the surface of the tablet might be involved to explain the effect of SDS on the tablet accessibility by water.     

Drawbacks of Surfactant Presence on the Dissolution and Mechanical Properties of Detergent Tablets: How to Control Interfaces by Surfactant Localization

The aim of this study is to limit the hurdles generated by the presence of a surfactant, i.e., sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), in effervescent detergent tablets containing a chlorine provider. The results are highlighted by investigating the tablet’s functional characteristics (mechanical strength, disintegration time). A second objective is to increase the surfactant content of the tablet in order to improve the cleaning properties of the detergent formula without retaining the previous drawbacks. For low tablet porosity, mechanical properties are damaged by the presence of 2% of SDS and while disintegration through an erosion mechanism is slowed down. Experimental evidence indicated that these phenomena are associated with the coexistence of SDS and sodium dichloroisocyanurate (DCCNa). Their separation by locating SDS in the tablet core was encouraging but had limited value due to the slow dissolution of the SDS core. The problem was solved when 2% SDS was concentrated on one face of the tablet; however, a higher concentration induced a delayed disintegration due to the progressive erosion of SDS, which behaved as a massive solid. The coating of the tablet with SDS was beneficial because the dissolution of the film delayed effervescence and consequently disintegration. Neither coating the SDS particles with cellulosic film nor including them in zeolite was an appropriate solution. On the other hand, segregating SDS and DCCNa by placing them in separate layers of the tablet produced very conclusive results when microcrystalline cellulose and an effervescent system were added to the SDS. Furthermore, this bilayer tablet allowed the SDS content to be increased while a satisfactory tensile strength and a low disintegration time were retained.

Characterization of the impact of magnesium stearate lubrication on the tableting properties of chitin-Mg silicate as a superdisintegrating binder when compared to Avicel® 200

The influence of the lubricant magnesium stearate (MgSt) on the powder and tablet properties of chitin-Mg silicate coprecipitate was examined and compared with lubricated Avicel® 200 and Avicel-Mg silicate coprecipitate. Crushing strength and disintegration time studies were conducted in order to evaluate tablet properties at different compression pressures. Lubrication of chitin-Mg silicate powder with MgSt was evaluated using a high speed rotary tablet press. The compactability and disintegration time of chitin-Mg silicate are unaffected by the possible deleterious action of up to 2% (w/w) MgSt. The deleterious effect of MgSt on Avicel® 200 compaction was found to be minimized when magnesium silicate was coprecipitated onto Avicel® 200. Lubrication of chitin-Mg silicate with MgSt does not enhance particle agglomeration, whereas the opposite is the case for Avicel® 200; the foregoing was ascertained by measurements of the fixed bulk density, constant powder porosity using Kawakita analysis and by the absence of variation in particle size distribution in the presence of up to 5% (w/w) MgSt. In the case of chitin-Mg silicate tablets the ejection force was greatly reduced at a compression speed of 150,000 tablet/h at a MgSt concentration of 0.5% (w/w). The physical properties and drug dissolution profile of ibuprofen tablets were found to be unaffected when chitin-Mg silicate was lubricated up to 5% (w/w) with MgSt. Optimal drug dissolution was attained for gemfibrozil tablets using 3% (w/w) MgSt when compared to a reference (Lopid tablets).     

The Characteristic Curvature of Ionic Surfactants

Characterizing the hydrophilic-lipophilic nature of a surfactant molecule has been a challenge for colloid scientists and technologists. The hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB), the packing factor, the phase inversion temperature (PIT) and the natural curvature of the surfactant are all terms that seek to address this issue. In this article we build on the hydrophilic–lipophilic difference concept (HLD) (Salager et al. Langmuir, 16, 5534–5539, 2000) to develop a methodology to determine a characteristic curvature (Cc) for ionic surfactants based on the phase behavior of mixed ionic surfactant microemulsions. In essence, the method consists of evaluating the shift in optimal electrolyte concentration as a function of the mole fraction of the test surfactant in a mixture with a reference surfactant, sodium dihexyl sulfosuccinate (SDHS) and applying the appropriate HLD equation for ionic surfactant mixtures to determine Cc. The values of Cc were determined for a range of surfactants, including sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS), sodium naphthenate, and others. The method was also extrapolated to nonionic additives and hydrophilic linkers. It was observed that the calculated values of Cc were similar to those predicted by group contribution models, however the proposed method can be used even for complex surfactant mixtures. Finally, when Cc values were compared to apparent packing factor and HLB values, it was found that Cc is correlated with the apparent packing factor of ionic surfactants, and that Cc correlates with the HLB value for nonionic amphiphiles. The physical interpretation of Cc, and its potential application in the Net-Average Curvature equation of state for oil-surfactant-water systems is discussed.

Influence of sodium dodecyl sulfate on the characteristics of bovine serum albumin solutions and foams

Results from surface tension measurements on mixed solutions of the protein bovine serum alburnin (BSA) and an anionic surfactant (SDS: sodium dodecyl sulfate) suggested that at an air-liquid interface, adsorption was affected by the protein-surfactant interaction and by the relative concentration of each component in solution. Two plateaus corresponding to the critical aggregation concentration (CAC) and the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of SDS, respectively, were observed in the surface tension isotherms of SDS in the presence of BSA. The CAC and CMC depended on the concentration of BSA. Effects of SDS concentration on the conformational changes of BSA were investigated by Fourier transform-Raman spectroscopy. The results showed that the contents of α-helix decreased while the contents of random coil increased. The presence of the anionic surfactant SDS had a negative influence on the way that proteins adsorb at an air-liquid interface, leading to the change of behavior of protein-stabilized film.     

Effect of surfactant on morphology and pore size of polysulfone membrane

The skin layer structure can be changed by adjusting the diffusion rate of the non-solvent into the polymer solution between membrane and coagulation bath through adding surfactant into either coagulation bath or dope solution. When adding SDS in coagulation bath, the variation trend of apparent diffusion coefficient during phase separation and scanning electron microscopy morphology of resultant membranes indicated that, at the beginning SDS migrated to the membrane-bath interface during phase separation process, playing a role as mechanical barrier within 0.15 wt% SDS concentration. Once the SDS concentration exceeds CMC, the remaining SDS will form micelles act as a carrier, hence, the phase separation rate accelerated. The membranes were characterized roughness parameters, obtained by the atomic force microscopic technique. While adding surfactant in the dope solution, compared with SDS addition into the coagulation bath, apparent diffusion coefficient and SEM morphology showed the similar trend, and the excellent range of SDS concentration is 0.08 wt%-0.1 wt%. As changing the nature of surfactant in the dope solution, we found that, with the increase of surfactant hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) value, the rate of phase separation speeds up, the size of macrovoid increases, flux increases gradually and rejection is weakened.     

The effect of processing parameters on pharmaceutical tablet properties

The preferred drug delivery system today is represented by tablets, which are manufactured using high speed rotary presses where the powder material is compressed in a die between rigid punches. Compression represents one of the most important unit operations because the shape, strength and other important properties of the tablets are determined at this time. These properties are dictated not only by the characteristics of the powder constituents (which are determined by the properties of the constituents, mixing and granulation), but also by the selection of process parameters imposed by production machinery. This paper focuses on the die fill and the compaction parameters.Die fill on high speed rotary tablet production presses is a complex phenomenon. On most presses the powder is deposited into the die under the effect of the gravity. Die fill is facilitated by the paddle wheels operating in the feed frame and the suction effect, whereby the lower punch is withdrawn while the die opening is exposed to powder in the feed frame. An experimental shoe-die system was developed to examine the effect of the contributing factors. High speed video observations enabled a detailed examination of the die fill process. The flowability of powders was quantified using the concept of critical velocity. It was illustrated that a detailed understanding of die fill could contribute to the design of feed frames as well as optimisation of press parameters in order to ensure consistent and efficient die fill, thus maximising the productivity of the presses.The compaction parameters are discussed with reference to tablet strength. Results generated using a compaction simulator as well as a number of rotary tablet presses are presented for a range of pharmaceutical excipients and placebo formulations.As a result of combined interactions between the material behaviour during compaction, powder-die wall friction and process parameters during die fill and compaction, the resulting tablets are in general non-homogeneous. X-ray computed tomography is employed to characterise the internal density distribution in tablets. The effect of tablet structure on friability, erosion and disintegration behaviour is examined.     

Effect of ionic strength on the temperature‐dependent behavior of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose solution and matrix tablet

The focus of the present study is on the temperature‐dependent behavior of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) solutions at various ionic strength levels. Such behavior is then introduced into the study of tablet dissolution with the aim of explaining why ionic strength could vary the dissolution rate or cause the tablets to disintegrate. The results show that increasing the concentration of solute in the dissolution media will affect the thermal property of hydrated HPMC and then have an effect on the matrix tablets dissolution process. Of the thermal property, reduction of the cloud point is believed to have some relationship with the decrease of the dissolution rate, and decline of the thermal gelation temperature (TGT) might be responsible for the disintegration of the matrix tablets. A “gel out” process concerning the mechanism of the disintegration has been put forward, and a rheological method to test the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) is also presented. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 4066–4074, 2006     

Effect of Alkyl Sulfate on the Phase Behavior of Microemulsions Stabilized with Monoacylglycerols

In this study the effect of an anionic surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate SDS) and oils (hydrocarbons: C12–C16) on the formation and phase behavior of the systems of oil/monoacylglycerols (MAG):SDS/propylene glycol/water has been investigated. The effects of the surfactant mixture on the phase behavior and the concentration of water or oil in the systems were studied at three temperatures (50, 55, 60 °C). Electrical conductivity measurement, FT-IR spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry methods were applied to determine the structure and type of the microemulsions formed. The dimension of microemulsion droplets was characterized by dynamic light scattering. It has been stated that the concentration of SDS has a strong influence on the shape and extent of the microemulsion areas. Addition of an ionic surfactant to the mixture with MAG promotes an increase in the area of microemulsion formation in the phase diagrams, and these areas of the isotropic region change with the temperature. It was shown that the presence in the systems of a surfactant more hydrophilic than MAG caused an increase in water content in the microemulsions. It was found that, depending on temperature and concentration of the surfactant mixture, it was possible to obtain a W/O type microemulsion with a dispersed particles size distribution ranging from 20 to 50 nm and containing about 17–38% water in the system. Among different alkanes (from C12 to C16), hexadecane embedded microemulsions showed a maximum water solubilization capacity.     

Influence of Process Parameters and Particle Size Distribution on Mechanical Properties of Tablets

The influence of the particle size distribution of maltodextrin powders with a dextrose equivalent level of 29 as well as two tableting process variables, namely the compression pressure and the dwell time, on the tensile strength, porosity, and pore size distribution of the final tablet was studied. The mechanical strength and porosity of the tablets are assessed in relation to the powder and process parameters. Regarding the process parameter, it was show that the compaction pressure clearly has a more pronounced influence on the tablet porosity and mechanical strength compared to the influence of the dwell time in the range of the study. As a result, the study offers a better understanding of how the properties of a tablet are influenced by the inter-correlation of powder characteristics and tableting parameters. Therefore, the shelf-life studies and tablet downstream processing as well as drug product development will benefit greatly from this work.     

Influence of temperature on the compaction of an organic powder and the mechanical strength of tablets

The purpose of this work consists in following the dependence of physical properties on the temperature during the compaction of an organic component. A special thermo-regulated die has been developed to realize uniaxial compression at different constant temperatures. This study has shown that a temperature change modifies the microstructures and the mechanical behaviour of the tablets. The measurement of the tablet porosity during the compression cycle allows us to conclude that temperature influences mainly the phenomena occurring during the isobaric stage of the compression cycle and not the ones during the pressure increase. On the other hand, during the pressure increase, the acoustical activity of the powder is reduced when temperature increases. The tensile strength of tablets realized at different temperatures was also studied and shows a maximum around 60 °C that can be explained by the SEM analysis of the microstructure of the tablets.     

Effect of hydrotropes on the aqueous solution behavior of surfactants

Aqueous solutions of surfactants—cationic: tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (C₁₄TABr); anionic: sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS); and nonionic: polyoxyethylene t-octylphenol (trade name Triton X-102, also called OPE-8)— in the presence of three hydrotropes, viz., sodium xylene sulfonate, sodium p-toluene sulfonate, and sodium chlorobenzene sulfonate, were examined by measuring surface tension, viscosity, and cloud points for the nonionic surfactant. The results show a marked decrease in the critical micelle concentration with increase in hydrotrope concentration for C₁₄TABr, a marginal decrease for SDS, and very little change for OPE-8 up to 0.1 M hydrotrope. The viscosity of cationic surfactant solutions showed a remarkable increase in the presence of trace amounts of hydrotropes (up to 15 mM). In contrast, the SDS solution showed only a slight increase in viscosity at high hydrotrope concentration (150 mM), and the viscosity of the OPE-8 solution remained constant. The cloud point of OPE-8 increased in the presence of hydrotropes, unlike its behavior with the simple salt NaCl. The strong dependence of the solution behavior of cationic surfactants on the presence of hydrotropes is discussed in terms of electrostatic interaction.     

Importance of micellar relaxation time on detergent properties

As we enter the new millennium, manufacturers of laundry detergents would like to provide new products for the twenty-first century. With the goal of achieving new and better performance characteristics, design strategies for research and development should be defined. This paper highlights the importance of micellar relaxation kinetics in processes involved in detergency. Earlier Shah and coworkers showed that the stability of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelles plays an important role in various technological processes. The slow relaxation time (τ₂) of SDS micelles, as measured by the pressure-jump technique, was in the range of 10⁻⁴ to 10¹ s, depending on the surfactant concentration. A maximal relaxation time and thus a maximal micellar stability was found at 200 mM SDS (5 s), corresponding to the least-foaming, largest bubble size, longest wetting time of textile, largest emulsion droplet size, and the most rapid solubilization of oil. These results are explained in terms of the flux of surfactant monomers from the bulk to the interface, which determines the dynamic surface tension. More stable micelles lead to less monomer flux and hence to a higher dynamic surface tension. The relaxation time for nonionic surfactants (as measured by the stopped-flow technique) was much longer than for ionic surfactants because of the absence of ionic repulsion between the head groups. The τ₂ was related to dynamic surface-tension experiments. Stability of SDS micelles can be greatly enhanced by the addition of long-chain alcohols or cationic surfactants. In summary, relaxation time data of surfactant solutions enable us to predict the performance of a given surfactant solution. Moreover, results suggest that one can design appropriate micelles with specific stability, or τ₂, by controlling surfactant structure, concentration, and physicochemical conditions, as well as by mixing anionic/cationic or ionic/nonionic surfactants for a desired technological application, e.g., detergency.     

Synthesis, structure and properties of hydrophobically associating polymers

Hydrophobically modified water-soluble polymers have recently become the subject of extensive research because of their use as aqueous viscosity modifiers in oil recovery and latex paint systems. In this study, poly(acrylamide) samples modified with small amounts of a hydrophobic monomer (ethylphenylacrylamide) have been prepared by free radical copolymerization using an aqueous micellar process in which the use of a surfactant ensures the solubilization of the hydrophobe. The copolymers exhibit improved thickening properties with respect to homopoly(acrylamide) analogs due to intennolecular hydrophobic associations. The aqueous solution-copolymer properties strongly depend on the amount of surfactant used in the synthesis. The differences observed between the samples are directly related to the copolymer microstructure, that is to a more or less block distribution of the hydrophobic units. The interactions in aqueous solution of a surfactant (sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS)) with these copolymers have been examined. A strong increase in viscosity is observed upon the addition of SDS below its critical micelle concentration, owing to the formation of mixed micelles of SDS and hydrophobic monomers. The complex rheological behavior observed is explained in terms of the balance between inter and intrachain liaisons. The effects of hydrolysis on the hydrophobic interactions are also discussed.     

Electrochemical investigations of an anticancer drug in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate as an enhancing agent at carbon paste electrode

In the present work, the electrochemical behavior of an anticancer drug, gemcitabine hydrochloride (GMB) was studied in the presence of a surface active agent (surfactant) at carbon paste electrode (CPE). GMB showed an oxidation peak at 1.101 V. The presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in the electrolyte was found to enhance the oxidation signal of GMB at CPE. The oxidation peak current of GMB in the presence of SDS was observed to be the function of accumulation time, scan rate, pH of the medium, and concentration of GMB. Accumulation time greatly influenced the peak current but did not exhibit significant influence on the peak potential. Based on this, a novel, sensitive, and convenient differential pulse voltammetric method was developed for the determination of GMB in the concentration range of 5.0 × 10⁻⁸–3.0 × 10⁻⁴ M with a limit of detection value of 8.2 × 10⁻⁹ M. The proposed procedure was successfully applied for the determination of GMB in pharmaceutical formulations and spiked biological samples.     

室温硫化硅橡胶乳液的制备与性能

通过乳液转相点法,制备了稳定性好的嵌段甲基硅橡胶纳米乳液。研究了表面活性剂的化学结构、亲水亲油平衡值对硅橡胶乳液稳定性的影响;确定了非离子乳化剂和阴离子乳化剂的复配体系;研究了复合乳化剂的复配比例和添加量对硅橡胶乳液稳定性的影响;分析了乳液转相点法的相转变机理。对硅橡胶乳液交联固化得到的弹性体的性能进行了表征。结果表明:当非离子乳化剂聚氧乙烯月桂醚和阴离子乳化剂十二烷基苯磺酸钠以物质的量比1∶1进行复配,复合乳化剂添加量10%时,硅橡胶乳液的粒径为57 nm,以3 000 r/min的速度离心30 min仍能保持稳定;固化得到的弹性体密度0.98 g/cm ³,邵A硬度43,拉伸强度1.69 MPa,断裂伸长率178.68%,各项指标均与溶剂型硅橡胶弹性体较为接近。     

离子型表面活性剂对荧光素酶和α-脂肪酶的影响

In order to study the effects of ionic surfactants on bacterial luciferase, the cationic surfactant dodecyltrimethylammonium biomide (DTAB) and anionic surfactant sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) were chosen. For comparison with bacterial luciferase, α-amylase was used since these two enzymes have similar electrostatic potential and charged active sites. After the enzymes were treated with the surfactants, the catalytic properties of bacterial luciferase and α-amylase were assayed, and fluorescence spectroscopy and circular dichroism (CD) were used to analyze the alteration of the protein structure. The results showed that when the DTAB concentration was low, the cationic surfactant DTAB enhanced the enzymatic activities of bacterial luciferase and α-amylase. On the other hand, the anionic surfactant SDS did not alter the enzymatic activity. The main interaction of cationic surfactant DTAB and the negatively charged surface of the proteins was the ionic interaction, which could alter the environment for the enzyme to work when the DTAB/enzyme molar ratio was low. However, at high cationic surfactant concentration, the ionic interaction and hydrophobic interaction might destroy the secondary and tertiary structures of the proteins, leading to the loss of enzymatic activities.     

硅氧烷低聚物的合成及其在泡沫染色中的应用

为了通过泡沫染色和光固化改善棉织物的染色性能，合成了一种含有不饱和双键的硅氧烷低聚物，设计了合适的含有聚合型黄色蒽醌染料、硅氧烷低聚物、光引发剂2,4,6-三甲基苯甲酰基-二苯基氧化膦（TPO）、表面活性剂十二烷基硫酸钠（SDS）的泡沫体系对棉织物进行泡沫染色。采用1HNMR和GPC分析了硅氧烷低聚物的化学结构和相对分子质量分布，采用FTIR表征了硅氧烷低聚物和染色棉织物的化学结构，采用SEM观察染色棉织物的表面形态。探讨了硅氧烷低聚物用量、染料用量、SDS质量浓度、TPO用量对泡沫性能和染色性能的影响，分析了硅氧烷低聚物的固色机理。结果表明，染料质量浓度30 g/L、硅氧烷低聚物用量为染料质量的2倍、SDS质量浓度2.0 g/L、TPO用量为染料质量的5%、紫外光照时间5 min时，染色织物染色深度可达5.70，耐皂洗色牢度和干/湿摩擦色牢度均为4～5级，水接触角为110.1°，紫外防护系数>50。硅氧烷低聚物通过侧基上的不饱和双键发生自由基聚合和硅醇基偶合交联实现固色，并赋予织物良好的疏水性能和抗紫外线性能。     

Properties of palm-oil-in-water emulsions: Effect of mixed emulsifiers

Palm-oil-in-water emulsions were prepared with mixtures of Tween 40 and Span 40 in various proportions. Stability and droplet-size distribution of the emulsions were monitored. Interfacial tensions of the palm oil/water interface were also determined in the presence of these emulsifier mixtures. Emulsifying efficiency of the emulsifier mixtures was assessed. No synergistic effect of Tween 40 (sorbitan monopalmitate with 18–22 moles of ethylene oxide) and Span 40 (sorbitan monopalmitate) was found on interfacial tension. Tween 40 alone (hydrophilic-lipophilic balance value 15.6) at 1.0% w/w gave palm oil emulsions that were stable for more than 30 d at 60°C. Emulsifier mixtures of Tween 40 and Span 40 with hydrophilic-lipophilic balance values in the range of 8.0–8.6 produced stable emulsions only at much higher emulsifier-mixture concentrations. The inherent nature of the oil and the accompanying natural surface-active materials present in the oil can influence the prevailing conditions at the oil/water interface and alter composition of the interfacial film and hence its stability.     

Influence of surfactant properties on thermal behavior and sol–gel transitions in surfactant‐HPMC mixtures

Four surfactants, namely, sodium n‐decyl sulfate (SDeS), sodium n‐hexadecyl sulfate (SHS), sodium n‐dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and Triton X‐100, were used as additives to study thermal behavior and sol–gel transformations in dilute aqueous hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC)/surfactant mixtures using micro‐differential scanning calorimetry. The influence of anionic surfactant, SDS on the gelation varied with SDS concentration where the sol–gel transition started at a higher temperature. Shape of the thermograms changed from single mode to dual mode at the SDS concentration of 6 mM and higher. SDeS and SHS, however, resulted in “salt‐in” effect of a different magnitude during gelation. Triton X‐100, being a non‐ionic surfactant, showed a minor “salt‐out” effect on the thermo‐gelation process. On the basis of different thermal behavior of anionic and non‐ionic surfactant/HPMC systems, a mechanism is proposed explaining how the chemical structure and electro‐charge of the surfactants affect the polymer/surfactant binding and polymer/polymer aggregation because of hydrophobic interaction during the sol–gel transition. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 2009