Surface Properties and Solubility Enhancement of Anionic/Nonionic Surfactant Mixtures Based on Sulfonate Gemini Surfactants

Abstract As a class of novel surfactants, Gemini surfactants usually exhibit fairly excellent interfacial properties in aqueous solutions on account of the unique structure. They have significant application and development potential for industrial production. However, the mixing properties of Gemini surfactants with conventional surfactants are the key to their application. The equilibrium surface tension curves of anionic/nonionic surfactant mixtures based on the sulfonate Gemini surfactant (SGS‐12) were measured using the Wilhelmy Plate method. The parameters of surface adsorption, the interaction parameters between anionic and nonionic surfactants, and the thermodynamic parameters of micelle formation were calculated from the corresponding equations. In addition, the dynamic surface tension (DST) curves of anionic/nonionic surfactant mixtures were examined through bubble profile analysis, and the diffusion performance parameters were acquired from empirical formulas. The solubilization of pyrene in micelle solutions was studied using UV–vis absorption spectroscopy. The results show that the interaction parameters of all anionic/nonionic surfactants are negative, indicating that there is a synergistic effect on reducing the surface tension. For the SGS‐12/OP‐10, SGS‐12/Tween 80, SGS‐12/AEO9, and SGS‐12/APG0810 mixtures, the optimum mixing ratios are 6:4, 7:3, 7:3, and 8:2, respectively. The thermodynamic data of micelles show that the formation of mixed micelles for SGS‐12/APG0810 mixtures is an enthalpy‐driven process. The tendency of DST curves of the SGS‐12/APG0810 mixture is similar to that of SGS‐12. In comparison with single‐surfactant solutions, the anionic/nonionic surfactant mixtures show stronger solubilization capacity toward pyrene.