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Adsorption kinetics in micellar solutions of nonionic surfactants

Colegate, D.M.; Bain, C.D.

Authors

D.M. Colegate



Abstract

Standard models of the adsorption kinetics of surfactants at the air-water surface assume that micelles break down into monomers in the bulk solution and that only monomers adsorb. We show here that micelles of the nonionic surfactant C14E8 adsorb to the surface of a liquid jet at a diffusion-controlled rate. Micellar adsorption can be switched off by incorporation of a small amount of ionic surfactant into the micelle and switched on again by addition of salt. More sophisticated models of adsorption processes in micellar solutions are required that permit a kinetic flux of micelles to the air-water interface.

Citation

Colegate, D., & Bain, C. (2005). Adsorption kinetics in micellar solutions of nonionic surfactants. Physical Review Letters, 95(19), https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.95.198302

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Nov 3, 2005
Deposit Date Apr 19, 2007
Journal Physical Review Letters
Print ISSN 0031-9007
Electronic ISSN 1079-7114
Publisher American Physical Society
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 95
Issue 19
DOI https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.95.198302