The project contributes to the general theme of complex chemical systems and strengthens ties with Innospec, a multi-national chemical company. Sodium lauroyl methyl isethionate (SLMI. Trade name “Iselux”) is a newly developed surfactant with attractive product properties for personal care applications. Little is known about the fundamental surface and solution properties of SLMI, and it is not currently possible to use information on available surfactants to predict phase behaviour. We characterise the solution and liquid crystalline phase behaviour of the SLMI/water system using a combination of optical microscopy, X-ray scattering and differential scanning calorimetry techniques. SLMI is synthesised using a batch process that leads to variable component concentrations. Preliminary studies conducted by Innospec indicate that the presence of particular process components has a significant influence on SLMI formulation rheological properties. We investigate the effects of synthesis-derived components on the rheological properties of the SLMI/sodium {(3-(dodecanoylamino)propyl)(dimethyl)ammonio)}acetate/water system using rheology and light scattering (static and dynamic) techniques. SLMI is often formulated into personal care products on mixing aqueous formulation components. Micelle growth occurs via a mechanistic process that is not understood and the equilibrium viscosity is attained at a time after mixing that ranges from seconds to weeks. Developing an improved understanding of the micelle growth mechanism is of both academic and industrial value. We utilise static light scattering and nuclear magnetic resonance techniques to probe a range of samples in the viscoelastic region of the SLMI/(carboxymethyl)hexadecyldimethyl ammonium hydroxide/water system. Experimental findings improve our current understanding of micelle growth process and provide a platform for future research on non-equilibrium mixing kinetics. In the final section we investigate salt-induced cloud point and precipitation phenomena in the SLMI/salt/water system. The cloud point is commonly observed in surfactant and protein systems by increasing the solution temperature above a critical value, resulting in phase separation of solute-rich and solute-depleted layers. Cloud point induced phase separation may also be prompted by addition of salt. The mechanistic process driving electrolyte-induced cloud point phenomena is not understood. We use a combination of turbidimetry measurements and lightscattering (static and dynamic) techniques to measure cloud point curves andcharacterise micellar behaviour prior to clouding.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:654825 |
| Date | January 2015 |
| Creators | Flood, Joseph |
| Publisher | University of Manchester |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/solution-and-liquid-crystalline-properties-of-sodium-lauroyl-methyl-isethionatewater-mixtures(d9f043f2-3ca6-4a13-b3f0-d5d5eae83bfc).html |
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