Interfacial Tension of Aqueous Three‐Phase Systems Formed by Triton X‐100/PEG/Dextran

Abstract

A novel aqueous three‐phase system was formed spontaneously when a nonionic surfactant (Triton X‐100) and two polymers (PEG and dextran) were mixed. The interfacial tension between the phases was measured by the spinning drop method. It was shown that the values of interfacial tension were extremely small. The interfacial tensions of the top/middle phases were much lower than those of the middle/bottom phases. The interfacial tension was affected by component concentrations, temperature, added salts, and the density difference between two phases. Temperature exhibited a special effect on interfacial tension: with the increase of temperature, interfacial tension increases significantly.

Keywords:

• Interfacial tension
• aqueous three‐phase system
• Triton X‐100
• dextran
• poly (ethylglycol)

Acknowledgments

This project was financially supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No 29973002, 20133030, 20273006).