Phase Diagrams and Solubilization of Chlorocarbons in Chlorocarbon/Water/Anionic Surfactant/Alcohol Microemulsion Systems

Abstract

The solubilization abilities of various chlorocarbons were investigated in a middle phase microemulsion system anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) or sodium dodecyl sulfonate (AS)/n-butanol/chlorocarbon/brine with a ε-β fishlike phase diagram. The composition of the balanced interfacial layer of the microemulsion and some other parameters are calculated. The result shows that surfactant little dissolves in water and chlorocarbon phases, while alcohol mainly dissolves in water and oil phases besides in the interfacial layer. The order of the solubilization ability is dichloromethane (CH₂Cl₂) ∼ carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) > tetrachloroethylene (PCE) > o-dichloro-benzene. The solubility of the alcohol decreases with the increase in NaCl concentrations, which should be compensated by the increase in the amount of alcohol as cosolvent (Cs), so as to maintain the balanced interfacial layer. Salinity has little effect on the partition of surfactant between phases.

Keywords:

• Chlorocarbons
• ε-β fishlike phase diagram
• solubilization