Depletion Forces Induced by Mixed Micelles of Nonionic Block Copolymers and Anionic Surfactants.

Depletion forces were measured between a silica sphere and a silica plate in solutions containing nonionic Pluronic P123 poly(ethylene oxide--propylene oxide--ethylene oxide) triblock copolymers and anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) surfactants using colloidal probe atomic force microscopy. Prior research established synergistic depletion force enhancement in solutions containing SDS and unimeric Pluronic F108 block copolymers via formation of large pseudo-polyelectrolyte complexes. The current work addresses a more complex system where the polymer is above its critical micelle concentration, and surfactant binding alters not only the size and charge of the micelles but also the number of polymers per micelle.

Colloidal Depletion and Structural Force Synergism or Antagonism in Solutions of Mutually Repelling Polyelectrolytes and Ionic Surfactants.

Depletion and structural forces were measured between a silica sphere and plate in solutions containing sodium polyacrylate (Na-PAA) anionic polyelectrolyte and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) anionic surfactant using colloidal probe atomic force microscopy, at high pH where the two species are electrostatically repelling from each other and from the silica surfaces. Measurements were performed for a range of SDS and Na-PAA concentrations to span conditions where only one of the species or both of the species would exert a detectable depletion or structural force when present in a single-component solution. In mixed solutions, conditions were identified (i) where depletion attraction was synergistically enhanced or antagonistically weakened relative to single component solutions; (ii) where the range of the depletion attraction was significantly extended and the repulsive structural force barrier was eliminated, due to simultaneous depletion of both species over different length scales; and (iii) where one species was the dominant depletant and forces in mixtures were indistinguishable from those in a single component solution of the dominant depletant.

Control of the colloidal depletion force in nonionic polymer solutions by complexation with anionic surfactants.

Hypothesis: Charge, size and concentration of depletants control the magnitude and range of depletion and structural forces. Noncovalent association of nonionic polymers with ionic surfactants may therefore synergistically enhance these forces to an extent that depends on the structure and composition of the resulting complexes.

Experiments: Forces were measured between a silica sphere and a silica plate in solutions of Pluronic F108 nonionic poly(ethylene oxide - block - propylene oxide - block - ethylene oxide) triblock copolymers and anionic sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) surfactants using colloidal probe atomic force microscopy as a function of polymer, surfactant and NaCl background electrolyte concentrations.

Removal of 2,4-dinitrophenol using hybrid methods based on ultrasound at an operating capacity of 7 L.

Sonochemical removal of 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) has been investigated using ultrasonic bath, with an operating capacity of 7 L, fitted with a large transducer with longitudinal vibrations having a 1 kW rated power output and operating frequency of 25 kHz. It has been revealed from calorimetric studies that maximum power is dissipated at a capacity of 7 L. The concentration of DNP has been monitored with an objective of evaluation of the efficacy of ultrasonic reactor in combination with process intensifying approaches for the removal of DNP.