HLB (hydrophilic lipophilic balance), CMC (critical micelle concentration) and phase behavior as related to hydrophobe branching

Journal Article · Wed Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982 · J. Colloid Interface Sci.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0021-9797(82)90134-5· OSTI ID:6340327

Graciaa, A; Barakat, Y; El-Eary, M; Fortney, L; Schechter, R S

Increased hydrophobe branching is employed to increase water solubility of surfactants. This is often considered synonymous with increasing surfactant HLB. When HLB is viewed in the context of the phase behavior of oil/water/surfactant systems, it is seen that increased branching favors partitioning into the oil phase, thus lowering surfactant HLB despite an experimentally observed increase in CMC. An alternative to HLB is proposed which defines a surfactant's properties based on the optimal alkane needed for the appropriate surfactant phase behavior. 23 references.

• OSTI ID: 6340327
• Journal Information: J. Colloid Interface Sci.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Colloid Interface Sci.; (United States) Vol. 89:1; ISSN JCISA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ADDITIVES
ALKANES
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID FLOW
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GELS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROPHYLIC POLYMERS
MICELLAR SYSTEMS
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
PHASE STUDIES
POLYMERS
RECOVERY
SOLUBILITY
SURFACTANTS
VISCOSITY
WATER
WATERFLOODING
WELLS
WETTABILITY