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Henry's law constants and micellar partitioning of volatile organic compounds in surfactant solutions

Journal Article · · Journal of Chemical and Engineering Data
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/je990195u· OSTI ID:20014553

Partitioning of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into surfactant micelles affects the apparent vapor-liquid equilibrium of VOCs in surfactant solutions. This partitioning will complicate removal of VOCs from surfactant solutions by standard separation processes. Headspace experiments were performed to quantify the effect of four anionic surfactants and one nonionic surfactant on the Henry's law constants of 1,1,1-trichloroethane, tirchloroethylene, toluene, and tetrachloroethylene at temperatures ranging from 30 to 60 C. Although the Henry's law constant increased markedly with temperature for all solutions, the amount of VOC in micelles relative to that in the extramicellar region was comparatively insensitive to temperature. The effect of adding sodium chloride and isopropyl alcohol as consolutes also was evaluated. Significant partitioning of VOCs into miscelles was observed, with the micellar partitioning coefficient (tendency to partition from water into mecelle) increasing according to the following series: trichloroethane < trichloroethylene < toluene < tetrachloroethylene. The addition of surfactant was capable of reversing the normal sequence observed in Henry's law constants for these four VOCs.

Research Organization:
Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH (US)
OSTI ID:
20014553
Journal Information:
Journal of Chemical and Engineering Data, Journal Name: Journal of Chemical and Engineering Data Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 45; ISSN JCEAAX; ISSN 0021-9568
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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