abstract
Aqueous micellar two-phase systems (AMTPS) hold a large potential for cloud point extraction of biomolecules but are yet poorly studied and characterized, with few phase diagrams reported for these systems, hence limiting their use in extraction processes. This work reports a systematic investigation of the effect of different surface-active ionic liquids (SAILs) covering a wide range of molecular properties upon the clouding behavior of three nonionic Tergitol surfactants. Two different effects of the SAILs on the cloud points and mixed micelle size have been observed: ILs with a more hydrophilic character and lower critical packing parameter (CPP < 1/2) lead to the formation of smaller micelles and concomitantly increase the cloud points; in contrast, ILs with a more hydrophobic character and higher CPP (CPP >= 1) induce significant micellar growth and a decrease in the cloud points. The latter effect is particularly interesting and unusual for it was accepted that cloud point reduction is only induced by inorganic salts. The effects of nonionic surfactant concentration, SAIL concentration, pH, and micelle zeta potential are also studied and rationalized.
keywords
SODIUM DODECYL-SULFATE; TRITON X-114; PHASE-SEPARATION; CO-SURFACTANTS; EXTRACTION; MIXTURES; BEHAVIOR; WATER; THERMODYNAMICS; SOLUBILIZATION
subject category
Chemistry
authors
Vicente, FA; Cardoso, IS; Sintra, TE; Lemus, J; Marques, EF; Ventura, SPM; Coutinho, JAP
our authors
Filipa Alexandra André Vicente
PhD Student
Jesus Lemus Torres
Post-doc Fellowship
Sónia Patrícia Marques Ventura
Assistant Professor
Tânia Ereira Sintra
Post-Doc FellowshipProjects
CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials (UID/CTM/50011/2013)
Projeto de Investigação Exploratória: Sónia Patricia Marques Ventura (IF/00402/2015)
acknowledgements
This work was developed within the scope of the project CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007679 (FCT ref. UID/CTM/50011/2013), financed by national funds through the FCT/MEC and when appropriate cofinanced by FEDER under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement. The authors are also grateful for the national fund through the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) for the doctoral grant SFRH/BD/101683/2014 of F.A. Vicente. S.P.M.V. acknowledges FCT for Contract IF/00402/2015 under the Investigador FCT 2015. E.F. Marques also acknowledges financial support from FCT and FEDER/COMPETE through grants UID/QUI/00081/2013, POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006980, and NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000028.