Ethoxy Carboxylate Extended Surfactant: Micellar, Adsorption and Adsolubilization Properties

The micellar, adsorption, and adsolubilization properties of a novel ethoxy carboxylate extended surfactant are measured and compared to an extended sulfate surfactant. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the ethoxy carboxylate extended surfactant is measured to be 0.02 mM while it is 0.07 mM for the extended sulfate surfactant. Adsorption and adsolubilization studies are carried out on alumina oxide surfaces. The extended sulfate surfactant has a higher maximum adsorption capacity onto the aluminum than the ethoxy carboxylate extended surfactant (0.47 vs. 0.14 mmol/g, respectively). For adsolubilization, the extended sulfate surfactant shows a slightly higher phenanthrene adsolubilization compared to the ethoxy carboxylate extended surfactant (log K(adm) of 6.15 vs. 5.71, respectively). In contrast, for solubilization, the ethoxy carboxylate extended surfactant exhibits higher phenanthrene solubilization capacities than the extended sulfate surfactant (log K(mic) of 5.61 vs. 5.42, respectively). Relative to surfactant loss from the solid surface, the ethoxy carboxylate extended surfactant shows a higher desorption capacity as compared to the extended sulfate surfactant. From these measurements, the ethoxy carboxylate extended surfactant has better properties for micellar applications (lower CMC, higher K(mic)), while the extended sulfate surfactant has better properties for admicellar applications (higher q(max) and K(adm) values, and less desorption).