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Clouding phenomenon in ionic micellar solutions: Role of the counterion
Author(s) -
Kumar Sanjeev,
Khan Ziya Ahmad
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of surfactants and detergents
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.349
H-Index - 48
eISSN - 1558-9293
pISSN - 1097-3958
DOI - 10.1007/s11743-004-0320-z
Subject(s) - counterion , chemistry , salt (chemistry) , phosphonium , alkyl , ionic bonding , pulmonary surfactant , inorganic chemistry , micelle , cloud point , micellar solutions , organic chemistry , ion , aqueous solution , biochemistry
Clouding is rarely observed with ionic surfactants. Herein we report the occurrence of clouding in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS, an anionic surfactant) solutions on addition of different symmetrical and unsymmetrical quaternary phosphonium bromides (tetra‐ n ‐butylphosphonium, tetraphenylphosphonium, and n ‐propyltriphenylphosphonium). Cloud point (CP) measurements were made with solutions having different SDS/salt combinations. The nature of the counterion had a crucial role in the occurrence of the phenomenon, whereas substitution of an alkyl chain by a phenyl ring made the salt more effective near ambient temperature. A linear relationship between the SDS and salt concentrations was obtained. It is proposed that both the electrostatic charge and the hydration state of the headgroup region are influenced by counterion addition and that the net charge or volume of the counterion has a key role to play in the overall phenomenon. The effect of the addition of some hydroxy compounds on CP variations in these SDS+salt systems was also studied, and the data were interpreted on the basis of incorporation of these compounds in the micellar headgroup region. The nature of the counterions influenced this incorporation.