Dynamic and equilibrium aspects of micellar and microemulsion systems

Thesis/Dissertation · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:7229743

Leung, R Y

The dynamic and equilibrium aspects of micellar and microemulsion systems have been investigated with focus on the influence of alcohols, oils, and salinity on the systems. The pressure-jump method was used to study the micellization kinetics. The obtained slow relaxation time is related to the average life-time of micelles. Microemulsions are studied by centering on the effect of interfacial elasticity and curvature on the systems. The addition of alcohols to micellar solutions increases the thermodynamic stability of micelles at low alcohol concentrations. A maximum thermodynamic stability of micelles has been observed at about 2-3 alcohol/surfactant ratios in the micellar phase. However, the addition of alcohols may increase or decrease the kinetic stability (life-time) of micelles depending on the micellization kinetics and alcohol chain length. The spontaneous curvature and elasticity of interfacial films have been shown to influence the solubilization and phase equilibria of water-in-oil (w/o) microemulsions, when the interfacial tension is very low. Maximum water solubilization in a w/o microemulsion can be obtained by minimizing both the interfacial bending stress of rigid interfaces and the attractive interdroplet interaction of fluid interfaces at an optimal interfacial curvature and elasticity. The study of phase equilibria of microemulsions serves as a simple method to evaluate the property of the interface and provides phenomenological guidance for the formulation of microemulsions with maximum solubilization. Being sensitive to the dynamic structure of surfactant solutions, the reaction kinetics and dynamic measurements have been used as a probe for the dynamic structure of micellar and microemulsion systems.

• Research Organization: Florida Univ., Gainesville (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7229743
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
MICELLAR SYSTEMS
LIFETIME
STABILITY
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
MICROEMULSIONS
ALCOHOLS
OILS
WATER
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
EMULSIONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production
400201 - Chemical & Physicochemical Properties