Alkali-Surfactant-Polymer (ASP) or Surfactant-Polymer (SP) flooding are attractive chemical enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods. However, some reservoir conditions are not favorable for the use of polymers or their use would not be economically attractive due to low permeability, high salinity, or some other unfavorable factors. In such conditions, gas can be an alternative to polymer for improving displacement efficiency in chemical-EOR processes. The co-injection or alternate injection of gas and chemical slug results in the formation of foam. Foam reduces the relative permeability of injected chemical solutions that form microemulsion at ultra-low interfacial tension (IFT) conditions and generates sufficient viscous pressure gradient to drive the foamed chemical slug. We have named this technique of foam assisted enhanced oil recovery as Alkali/Surfactant/Gas (ASG) process. The concept of ASG flooding as an enhanced oil recovery technique is relatively new, with very little experimental and theoretical work available on the subject. This dissertation presents a systematic study of ASG process and its potential as an EOR method. We performed a series of high performance surfactant-gas tertiary recovery corefloods on different core samples, under different rock, fluid, and process conditions. In each coreflood, foamed chemical slug was chased by foamed chemical drive. The level of mobility control in corefloods was evaluated on the basis of pressure, oil recovery, and effluent data. Several promising surfactants, with dual properties of foaming and emulsification, were identified and used in the coreflood experiments. We observed a strong synergic effect of foam and ultra-low IFT conditions on oil recovery in ASG corefloods. Oil recoveries in ASG corefloods compared reasonably well with oil recoveries in ASP corefloods, when both were conducted under similar conditions. We found that the negative salinity gradient concept, generally applied to chemical floods, compliments ASG process by increasing foam strength in displacing fluids (slug and drive). A characteristic increase in foam strength was observed, in nearly all ASG corefloods conducted in this study, as the salinity first changed from Type II(+) to Type III environment and then from Type III to Type II(-) environment. We performed foaming and gas-microemulsion flow experiments to study foam stability in different microemulsion environments encountered in chemical flooding. Results showed that foam in oil/water microemulsion (Type II(-)) is the most stable, followed by foam in Type III microemulsion. Foam stability is extremely poor (or non-existent) in water/oil microemulsion (Type II (+)). We investigated the effects of permeability, gas and liquid injection rates (injection foam quality), chemical slug size, and surfactant type on ASG process. The level of mobility control in ASG process increased with the increase in permeability; high permeability ASG corefloods resulting in higher oil recovery due to stronger foam propagation than low permeability corefloods. The displacement efficiency was found to decrease with the increase in injection foam quality. We studied the effect of pressure on ASG process by conducting corefloods at an elevated pressure of 400 psi. Pressure affects ASG process by influencing factors that control foam stability, surfactant phase behavior, and rock-fluid interactions. High solubility of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the aqueous phase and accompanying alkali consumption by carbonic acid, which is formed when dissolved CO₂ reacts with water, reduces the displacement efficiency of the process. Due to their low solubility and less reactivity in aqueous phase, Nitrogen (N₂) forms stronger foam than CO₂. Finally, we implemented a simple model for foam flow in low-IFT microemulsion environment. The model takes into account the effect of solubilized oil on gas mobility in the presence of foam in low-IFT microemulsion environment. / text

In this thesis we derive and solve mathematical models for surfactant systems with differing adsorption structures at interfaces. The first part of this thesis considers two dynamic experimental set-ups for which we derive the associated mathematical surfactant–fluid description. Firstly we consider the behaviour of a weakly interacting polymer–surfactant solution under the influence of a steady straining flow. We reduce the model using asymptotic methods to predict the regimes under which we observe phase transitions of the species in the system and show how the bulk dynamics couple to the surfactant adsorption. Secondly we model an experiment to observe the desorption kinetics of a surfactant monolayer, designed to emulate the 'rinse mechanism' used for the removal of surfactant-containing products using water. Through the comparison of our model with experimental data we derive a semi-empirical relationship that describes the variation in depth of a near-surface diffusive boundary layer with the reduced Peclet number. We then employ a combination of asymptotic and numerical techniques that validate this result. The second part of this thesis is concerned with surfactant systems that exhibit more pronounced adsorption at the interface due to the surfactant monomers no longer arranging themselves in a single layer, as is typically the case, but rather in multiple layers. Such self-assembled structures are commonly referred to as multilayers. We derive a simplified model that describes the rearrangement of surfactant within the multilayer structure and draw comparisons between the features of our model and experimental observations. We consider an extension of the theory to the situation of multilayer formation between two adsorbing interfaces, which is governed by an implicit free-boundary problem. We also consider incorporation of bulk solution effects, such as the addition of an electrolyte. Finally, we draw our conclusions and suggest further theoretical and experimental work related to the models presented in this thesis.

Demonstrou-se pela primeira vez que é possível determinar surfactantes e água em formulações de Sabonetes Líquidos (SL) e Shampoos (SH), direta e simultaneamente pela técnica de infravermelho por transformada de Fourier (FTIR) acoplada à uma cela de reflectância total atenuada (ATR). Tradicionalmente, a principal aplicação do infravermelho médio (2,50 - 15,0 µm) é a identificação de compostos orgânicos. O desenvolvimento de novos acessórios, principalmente de ATR, os avanços na área de microinformática e de métodos quimiométricos, vem viabilizando as análises quantitativas rápidas com excelentes resultados mesmo em meio aquoso. A determinação simultânea de surfactantes em formulações por FTIR-ATR é investigada em detalhes nesta tese. Dentre os surfactantes utilizados, o Lauril Éter Sulfato de Sódio (LESS) e a Cocoamidopropil Betaína (CAPB) são comuns em ambas as formulações, sendo a Coco Dietanolamida (CDEA) empregada em shampoo e o Alquilpoliglicosídeo (APG) em sabonete líquido. Espectros de absorbância de amostras padrão e de verificação foram adquiridos na região do infravermelho médio (800-1600 e 1900-3000 cm-I). Para a regressão de mínimos quadrados clássicos (CLSR), selecionou-se 200 números de onda, enquanto que para a regressão de mínimos quadrados inversos (ILSR), apenas 10. Nas regressões de componentes principais (PCR) e de mínimos quadrados parciais (PLSRI e PLSR2), utilizaram-se de 300 à 1100 números de onda. Dois conjuntos de amostras padrão foram preparados, o primeiro, contendo 27 misturas padrão, foi estudado somente pelos métodos CLSR e ILSR, enquanto que o segundo conjunto, contendo 48 amostras padrão, foi avaliado por todos os métodos mencionados acima. A seleção das regiões de quantificação favoreceu números de onda dos componentes minoritários CAPB, APG e CDEA e resultados satisfatórios foram encontrados para 18 amostras de shampoo e sabonete líquido. Interferentes como NaCl e perfume foram incluídos no segundo conjunto e os métodos PCR e PLSR proporcionaram melhores resultados. Os erros relativos (RSEP%) para água (correspondendo a 84-88% do produto) e LESS (6-10%) não excederam 1%; para CAPB (<3%) e CDEA (<2%), o RSEP% situou-se entre de 2-4% e para APG (<3%), não excedeu 5%. Avaliações do processo de normalização, repetibilidade, vulnerabilidade a interferentes (perfumes), redução no número de padrões de calibração foram conduzidos, encontrando-se resultados satisfatórios para todos os casos, com erro relativo inferior à 5,0%. Um dispositivo simples para injeção direta da amostras no acessório de ATR foi construído, permitindo aumentar a freqüência analítica de 20 para 60 análises por hora. / It is demonstrated for the first time that the principal constituents of a shampoo as well as of a liquid soap -three surfactants and water- can be determined directly, simultaneously and quickly in undiluted samples by Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy in the middle infrared region, despite the broad absorption bands ofthe solvent. The main application of the middle infrared (2,50 - 15,0 µm) was the identification of organic compounds. The development of new accessories, such as ATR, and the advance of computers and chemometrics, extended the technique to quantitative analysis, with excellent results. The simultaneous determination of surfactants in shampoos and liquid soap formulations by FTIRA TR is investigated in detail in this thesis. Two of the surfactants, sodium lauryl ether sulfate (LESS) and cocoamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) are common to both formulations; alkylpolyglucoside (APG) is the third surfactant of the liquid soap and cocodiethanolamide (CDEA), the corresponding ingredient of the shampoo. Absorbance data of the undiluted verification samples and calibration standards was collected in the middle infrared region of the spectrum (800-1600 and 1900-3000 cm-1). Five methods of multivariate quantification were compared: Classical Least Squares Regression (CLSR), where absorbance data measured at 200 wavenumbers was processed, Inverse Least Squares Regression (ILSR), were data at 10 selected wavenumbers was analyzed, Principal Components Regression (PCR), and Partial Least Squares Regression, which has two different approaches, PLSR1 and PLSR2. Two sets of standard samples were prepared for the method calibration. The first one, consisting of 27 standard mixtures, was evaluated by the CLSR and ILSR methods; a second set, with 48 standards, was evaluated by all the methods mentioned above. Potential interfering, such as NaCI and perfume, were inc\\uded in this second set. By favoring wavenumbers where absorption bands of the minor components (CAPB in both formulations, APG in the liquid soap and CDEA in the shampoo) are more intense, good results were obtained for 18 simulated samples of shampoo and 18 samples of liquid soap. For the second set, PCR and PLSR methods were most favorable; relative errors (RSEP%) for water (major component, 84-88%) and LESS (6-10%) did not exceed 1%; for CAPB (<3%) and CDEA(<2%), RSEP% of 2-4% were observed, and for APG(<3%), 5% was not exceeded. Tests for repeatability, normalization performance evaluation, effect of interferents presented favorable results. A simple device for direct sample injection was designed and evaluated. It permitted an increase ofthe analytical frequency from 20 to 60 samples per hour.

O interesse por sistemas formados por misturas de surfatantes se deve ao fato destas misturas apresentarem propriedades diferentes, e algumas vezes superiores, às dos surfatantes puros. Neste trabalho foram realizadas, em água e em soluções aquosas de sal, medidas de CMC, constantes de dissociação iônica, concentrações superficiais de contra-íons e entalpias de micelização para misturas de surfatantes zwiteriônicos e catiônicos. Os surfactantes catiônicos utilizados foram: brometo e cloreto de N- hexadecil - N,N,N - trimetil amônio, CTAB(C), e brometo de N- dodecil N,N,N - trimetil amônio, DTAB. Os zwiteriônicos foram: N-hexadecil- N,N-dimetil-3-amônio-1-propanosulfonato, HPS, e N-dodecil- N,N-dimetil-3amônio-1-propanosulfonato, DPS, e n-hexadecil- fosforil colina, HFC. Medidas de tensão superficial, condutividade e entalpia molar de diluição em função da concentração da mistura mostraram que, em água, ocorre primeiro a formação de micelas zwiteriônicas, seguida, com o aumento da concentração total de detergente, da incorporação do surfatante catiônico na fase micelar. A adição de sal facilita a formação de micelas mistas, principalmente nas misturas formadas por surfatantes de maior cadeia hidrocarbônica. Em micelas mistas medidas da concentração superficial de contra-íons por captura química mostraram que a concentração superficial de contra-íons aumenta com a fração molar do detergente catiônico. A concentração superficial de ânions é maior para misturas HPS/CT AB do que para misturas H FC/CTAB, quando a fração molar do detergente zwiteriônico é alta, denotando importância da composição da mistura e do sentido do momento de dipolo da cabeça polar do surfatante zwiteriônico, na capacidade da interface micelar em ligar ânions. Com o objetivo de verificar a extensão na qual a catálise de uma reação unimolecular pode ser controlada por propriedades interfaciais de micelas, foi estudada a reação de descarboxilação do íon 6-nitro benzisoxazol-3- carboxilato que é favorecida em micro-ambientes menos hidratados. Os resultados obtidos nos diferentes sistemas mostraram que misturas HFC/CTAB favorecem mais a reação do que micelas constituídas pelos anfifílicos puros, enquanto que nas misturas HPS/CTAB e DPS/DTAB, a velocidade de descarboxilação aumenta linearmente com a fração molar do surfatante zwiteriônico. A variação das constantes de velocidade com a concentração de detergente para misturas com menos de 30% de surfatante catiônico foi analisada usando o formalismo da pseudo fase, enquanto que as demais foram analisadas usando o formalismo da troca-iônica, levando em conta a dependência de a com a concentração. Este estudo representa a primeira análise integrada de propriedades físico-químicas e cinéticas para um sistema de misturas de detergentes zwiteriônicos e catiônicos. Os dados estruturais, junto com os efeitos cinéticos, fornecem uma descrição detalhada tanto do efeito de interfaces sobre reatividade como da estrutura das micelas mistas. / The interest for systems formed by surfactant mixtures is related to the fact that these mixtures exhibit properties that are more interesting, or useful, than those of the isolated components. Some mixtures can, for example, have a lower critical micelle concentration (CMC) or a higher efficiency on the reduction of the surface tension than the components. In this work we determined CMC\'s, ionic dissociation constants, surface counter-ion concentrations and micellization enthalpies for pure zwiterionic and cationic surfactants and their mixtures, in water and in aqueous salt. For this purpose, we used different alkyl chain sizes and varying structures of the polar head groups of zwiterionic detergents thereby changing the dipole moment orientation. In addition the nature of the cationic surfactant counter-ion was varied. Ammonium quaternary detergents (cationic) and sulphobetaines and phosphocholines derivatives (zwiterionic) were used as surfactants. Surface tension, conductivity and isothermal titration calorimetry were used as the main analytical methods. The judicious use of these methods allowed a better understanding of mixed micelle formation. The formation of mixed micelles depended upon several conditions such as: salt concentration, molar fraction of the components and hydrocarbon chain length. Measurements of the surface counter-ion concentrations by chemical trapping demonstrated the importance of mixture composition and of dipole moment orientation on the ability of micellar interface to bind anions. In water, zwitterionic micelles form first and, as the total detergent concentration rises, the positively charged detergent increasingly incorporates into the micellar pseudophase. Salt addition assists mixed micelle formation, especially with longer chain surfactants. Determination of interfacial anion concentration by chemical capture showed that, as expected, the interfacial counterion concentration increases with the molar fraction of the positively charged detergent. Interfacial anion concentration was larger for mixtures of HPS/CTAB when compared with HFC/CTAB mixtures at high molar ratio of the zwitterionic detergent. These results evidence the importance of mixture composition and dipole orientation on the interfacial properties of mixed micelles. The kinetic study of the effects of surfactant mixtures on the rate of a unimolecular decarboxylation reaction using 6-nitro benzisoxazole-3-carboxylate (NBOC) also showed important features of the mixed micellar surface. The rate of the unimolecular NBOC decomposition is extremely sensitive to the hydrogen donating capacity of the solvent at the reaction site. HFC/CTAB mixtures increase the reaction rate more than the single detergent micelles. For HPS/CTAB and DPS/DTAB mixtures the reaction rate increases linearly with the mole fraction of the zwitterionic component. Quantitative kinetic analysis was done using the ion exchange formalism above 30 mole % CTAB and the simple pseudophase model at lower positively charged detergent. This study represents the first integrated analysis of both physicochemical and kinetic properties of zwitterionic/positively charged micelles. The structural data, together with the kinetic effects furnish a detailed description of both micellar interfacial effects on reactivity and mixed micelle formation and properties.

Foram sintetizadas duas novas séries de tensoativos de açúcar derivados da 2-D-glucosamina: os metil 2-acilamido-2-deóxi-6-O-sulfonato-D-glucopiranosídeos de sódio (aniônicos) e os cloretos de metil 2-acilamido-2,6-dideóxi-6-trimetilamônio-D-glucopiranosídeos (catiônicos). Os tensoativos aniônicos foram obtidos pela acilação da 2-D-glucosamina com cloretos de acila (com 8, 12 e 16 carbonos), seguida pela metilação desses derivados com metanol em meio ácido, e posterior sulfatação dos metil glucosídeos com complexo trióxido de enxofre-piridina. Os tensoativos catiônicos foram obtidos pela tosilação dos metil glucosídeos, seguida pela quaternização com trimetilamina e troca do contra-íon tosilato por cloreto com resina de troca-iônica. Esses tensoativos apresentaram c.m.c. similares a de outros tensoativos iônicos de cadeia hidrofóbica de igual comprimento, mas energias livres de transferência do grupo polar para a micela muito mais favoráveis. Esse fato foi atribuído à formação de ligações de hidrogênio entre os grupos polares do tensoativo na micela, e à hidrofobicidade do açúcar. As micelas formadas apresentaram números de agregação maiores que os obtidos para outros tensoativos, provavelmente devido às interações atrativas entre os grupos polares. / Two new sugar-based surfactant series were synthesized from 2-D-glucosamine: sodium methyl 2-acylamido-2-deoxi-6-O-sulfonate-D-glucopyranosides (anionic) and methyl 2-acylamido-2,6-dideoxi-6-trimethylamonium-D-glucopyranoside chlorides (cationic). The anionic surfactants were obtained by the acylation of 2-D-glucosamine with acyl chlorides (with 8, 12 and 16 carbons), followed by the methylation of these derivatives with methanol in acidic media, and the sulfation of the methyl glucosides with sulfur trioxide-pyridine complex. The cationic surfactants were obtained by the tosylation of methyl glucosides followed by the quaternization with trimethylamine and exchange of the tosylate contra-ion with chloride ions on an ion exchange resin. These surfactants showed c.m.c. similar to other ionic surfactants with equal hydrophobic chain lengths, but more favorable free energies of transfer of the polar head to the micelle. This fact is attributed to hydrogen bonding between the head groups of the surfactant in the micelle, and the hydrophobicity of the sugar moiety. The micelles of these surfactants showed aggregation numbers larger than those obtained for other surfactants, problably because of head-group attractive interactions.

Xu Feng. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 205-233). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese.

Demonstrou-se pela primeira vez que é possível determinar surfactantes e água em formulações de Sabonetes Líquidos (SL) e Shampoos (SH), direta e simultaneamente pela técnica de infravermelho por transformada de Fourier (FTIR) acoplada à uma cela de reflectância total atenuada (ATR). Tradicionalmente, a principal aplicação do infravermelho médio (2,50 - 15,0 µm) é a identificação de compostos orgânicos. O desenvolvimento de novos acessórios, principalmente de ATR, os avanços na área de microinformática e de métodos quimiométricos, vem viabilizando as análises quantitativas rápidas com excelentes resultados mesmo em meio aquoso. A determinação simultânea de surfactantes em formulações por FTIR-ATR é investigada em detalhes nesta tese. Dentre os surfactantes utilizados, o Lauril Éter Sulfato de Sódio (LESS) e a Cocoamidopropil Betaína (CAPB) são comuns em ambas as formulações, sendo a Coco Dietanolamida (CDEA) empregada em shampoo e o Alquilpoliglicosídeo (APG) em sabonete líquido. Espectros de absorbância de amostras padrão e de verificação foram adquiridos na região do infravermelho médio (800-1600 e 1900-3000 cm-I). Para a regressão de mínimos quadrados clássicos (CLSR), selecionou-se 200 números de onda, enquanto que para a regressão de mínimos quadrados inversos (ILSR), apenas 10. Nas regressões de componentes principais (PCR) e de mínimos quadrados parciais (PLSRI e PLSR2), utilizaram-se de 300 à 1100 números de onda. Dois conjuntos de amostras padrão foram preparados, o primeiro, contendo 27 misturas padrão, foi estudado somente pelos métodos CLSR e ILSR, enquanto que o segundo conjunto, contendo 48 amostras padrão, foi avaliado por todos os métodos mencionados acima. A seleção das regiões de quantificação favoreceu números de onda dos componentes minoritários CAPB, APG e CDEA e resultados satisfatórios foram encontrados para 18 amostras de shampoo e sabonete líquido. Interferentes como NaCl e perfume foram incluídos no segundo conjunto e os métodos PCR e PLSR proporcionaram melhores resultados. Os erros relativos (RSEP%) para água (correspondendo a 84-88% do produto) e LESS (6-10%) não excederam 1%; para CAPB (<3%) e CDEA (<2%), o RSEP% situou-se entre de 2-4% e para APG (<3%), não excedeu 5%. Avaliações do processo de normalização, repetibilidade, vulnerabilidade a interferentes (perfumes), redução no número de padrões de calibração foram conduzidos, encontrando-se resultados satisfatórios para todos os casos, com erro relativo inferior à 5,0%. Um dispositivo simples para injeção direta da amostras no acessório de ATR foi construído, permitindo aumentar a freqüência analítica de 20 para 60 análises por hora. / It is demonstrated for the first time that the principal constituents of a shampoo as well as of a liquid soap -three surfactants and water- can be determined directly, simultaneously and quickly in undiluted samples by Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy in the middle infrared region, despite the broad absorption bands ofthe solvent. The main application of the middle infrared (2,50 - 15,0 µm) was the identification of organic compounds. The development of new accessories, such as ATR, and the advance of computers and chemometrics, extended the technique to quantitative analysis, with excellent results. The simultaneous determination of surfactants in shampoos and liquid soap formulations by FTIRA TR is investigated in detail in this thesis. Two of the surfactants, sodium lauryl ether sulfate (LESS) and cocoamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) are common to both formulations; alkylpolyglucoside (APG) is the third surfactant of the liquid soap and cocodiethanolamide (CDEA), the corresponding ingredient of the shampoo. Absorbance data of the undiluted verification samples and calibration standards was collected in the middle infrared region of the spectrum (800-1600 and 1900-3000 cm-1). Five methods of multivariate quantification were compared: Classical Least Squares Regression (CLSR), where absorbance data measured at 200 wavenumbers was processed, Inverse Least Squares Regression (ILSR), were data at 10 selected wavenumbers was analyzed, Principal Components Regression (PCR), and Partial Least Squares Regression, which has two different approaches, PLSR1 and PLSR2. Two sets of standard samples were prepared for the method calibration. The first one, consisting of 27 standard mixtures, was evaluated by the CLSR and ILSR methods; a second set, with 48 standards, was evaluated by all the methods mentioned above. Potential interfering, such as NaCI and perfume, were inc\\uded in this second set. By favoring wavenumbers where absorption bands of the minor components (CAPB in both formulations, APG in the liquid soap and CDEA in the shampoo) are more intense, good results were obtained for 18 simulated samples of shampoo and 18 samples of liquid soap. For the second set, PCR and PLSR methods were most favorable; relative errors (RSEP%) for water (major component, 84-88%) and LESS (6-10%) did not exceed 1%; for CAPB (<3%) and CDEA(<2%), RSEP% of 2-4% were observed, and for APG(<3%), 5% was not exceeded. Tests for repeatability, normalization performance evaluation, effect of interferents presented favorable results. A simple device for direct sample injection was designed and evaluated. It permitted an increase ofthe analytical frequency from 20 to 60 samples per hour.

The dissolution behavior of a drug substance is an important part of its bioavailability. Three solid dissolution mechanisms are recognized: transport control, interface control and mixed-kinetic control. The mixed-kinetic control mechanism is not well studied as the majority of dissolution phenomena in pharmaceutical research are assumed to be transport-controlled. A phenomenological model for mixed-kinetic control was developed in which the interfacial step comprises molecular detachment and re-deposition and is described by chemical kinetic theory. This model encompasses interface control and transport control as limiting cases. Experimental studies on three organic compounds showed that they dissolved by transport control at 37°C, but exhibited certain degrees of interface control at lower temperatures (10°C and 3°C), which, according to the model, indicates that reducing the dissolution temperature slowed down re-deposition more than transport. Using mathematical approaches derived from the model, up to 27% interface control was calculated from the experimental results. The second experimental investigation showed significant degrees of interface control in benzoic acid dissolution in sodium dodecyl sulfate (NaDS) solutions at 25°C. The dissolution behavior was well described by the mixed-kinetic control model and up to 73% interface control was calculated. An extension of the model was proposed to describe a potential micelle-interface interaction mechanism indicated by the model-fitted parameters. The third investigation showed that FD&C Blue #1, a water-soluble dye, inhibited sulfathiazole dissolution in acidic media but not in water. The inhibition was attributed to the blocking of dissolution sites by dye adsorption. A potential pH-dependent adsorption mechanism was proposed in which protonation at sulfathiazole solid surface gives rise to preferential dye adsorption on detachment rates and thus reduced dissolution rates.

The adsorbed layer morphology of a series of surfactants under different conditions has been examined primarily using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The morphologies of single and double chained quaternary ammonium surfactants adsorbed to mica have been characterised using AFM at concentrations below the cmc. Mixing these different types of surfactants systematically allowed a detailed examination of the change in adsorbed film curvature from the least curved bilayers through to most curved globules. From this study a novel mesh structure was discovered at curvatures intermediate to bilayers and rods. A mesh was again observed in studies examining the morphology change of adsorbed nonionic surfactant films on silica with variation in temperature. Other surfactant mixtures were also examined including grafting non-adsorbing nonionic surfactants and diblock copolymers into quaternary ammonium surfactant films of different morphologies.

Ce mémoire de thèse s'inscrit dans la problématique de l'Evaluation Des Risques Ecotoxicologiques (EDREcotox) liés aux rejets d'effluents hospitaliers dans les milieux aquatiques. Le premier objectif vise à améliorer la connaissance des effets écotoxicologiques des effluents hospitaliers. Pour cela, nous avons étudié d'une part, les effets combinés des principaux polluants contenus dans ces effluents vis-à-vis de Daphnia magna et, d'autre part, les effluents provenant d'un hôpital d'une grande ville française, en intégrant leur caractérisation physico-chimique et écotoxicologique approfondie. Nous avons alors mis en œuvre des EDREcotox basées sur les différentes approches préalablement étudiées (substances, substances avec effets combinés, bioessais mono-spécifiques et pluri-spécifiques). Le second objectif de ce travail vise à contribuer à l'amélioration des méthodologies de caractérisation des effets écotoxicologiques, à la fois d'un point de vue général et pour le scénario spécifique étudié : « rejets des effluents d'un hôpital d'une grande ville du Sud-Est de la France dans le réseau d'eaux usées en direction de la station d'épuration puis du cours d'eau ». Les résultats obtenus montrent que les effets combinés des mélanges de désinfectants/surfactants étudiés sont additifs vis-à-vis de D. magna. Quelle que soit l'approche utilisée, nos résultats révèlent la toxicité des effluents étudiés. Les EDREcotox montrent cependant que, dans le cas de notre scénario, le risque écotoxicologique est faible pour les organismes du milieu récepteur. Nos recherches ont également permis de proposer une méthodologie de caractérisation des effets écotoxicologiques basée sur une première étape constituée d'une approche intégrée. Enfin, ce travail permet d'aboutir à des recommandations pour une meilleure gestion des effluents hospitaliers.