Influence of alkyl chain length compatibility on microemulsion structure and solubilization

Journal Article · Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1980 · J. Colloid Interface Sci.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0021-9797(80)90471-3· OSTI ID:5503316

Bansal, V K; O'Connell, J P; Shah, D O

The water solubilization capacity of water/oil microemulsions is studied as a function of alkyl chain length of oil (C/sub 8/ to C/sub 16/), surfactant (C/sub 14/ and C/sub 18/ fatty acid soaps), and alcohol (C/sub 4/ to C/sub 7/). Sodium stearate and sodium myristate were used as surfactants. For n-butanol microemulsions the maximum amount of water solubilized in the microemulsion decreased continuously with increasing oil chain length; for n-heptanol it increased continuously. For n-pentanol and n-hexanol systems, water solubilization reached a maximum when the oil chain length plus alcohol chain length was equal to that of the surfactant. The electric resistance and dielectric constant of the microemulsions also are measured as a function of alkyl chain length of the oil. 48 references.

• OSTI ID: 5503316
• Journal Information: J. Colloid Interface Sci.; (United States), Vol. 75:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
DISPLACEMENT FLUIDS
MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
SOLVENT PROPERTIES
MICROEMULSIONS
ALCOHOLS
CORRELATIONS
DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
MOLECULAR WEIGHT
OILS
SOLUBILITY
SURFACTANTS
WATER
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
EMULSIONS
FLUIDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production