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Abstract
A spectroscopic (ATR) approach is suggested for direct, simple and fast in situ monitoring of the removal process of an oil phase in a porous polymer membrane by the aqueous solution of a strong anionic surfactant. The water amount penetrating into the thin layer adherent to the optical prism is monitored upon time (t) by means of optical density (E) recording: E vs. √t plots are obtained and evaluated for various porous material types and effective pore radii. The effects of temperature, surfactant-, cosurfactant- and electrolyte concentration variations were established and interpreted: the linear E vs. √t ranges in the plots agree with the known relations explaining the oil removal by microemulsion formation, on the one hand, and by oil pushing out under capillary control, on the other. The data obtained by the suggested approach would allow to gain insight into optimum formulation of aqueous phase composition.
Notes
† Attenuated total reflection