THERMODYNAMICS OF MIXED MICELLAR SYSTEMS OF SODIUM OCTANOATE AND ETHOXYLATED ALCOHOLS IN WATER AT 25-DEGREES-C

Thermodynamic volume and compressibility properties, of binary aqueous systems of sodium octanoate (C8Na) and polyoxyethylene butyl ether co mpounds (ethoxylated alcohols), with one to three oxyethylene groups ( C4EOX), and ternary system of these compounds, have been determined as a function of surfactant and alcohol concentrations at 25-degrees-C f rom density and ultrasonic velocity measurements. Values of standard s tate apparent molar volume and apparent molar adiabatic compressibilit y properties of transfer of ethoxylated alcohols from water to aqueous C8Na solutions were obtained. The observed trends in the properties o f the aqueous binary C8Na systems and of the transfer functions for C4 EOx, at a given low concentration of 0.05m, were analyzed using theore tical models. Good agreement between the simulated results and the exp erimental data was achieved. The results obtained for the distribution coefficients of the alcohols and the thermodynamic properties of both components of the mixed micelle show that the hydrophobicity of the e thoxylated alcohols is enhanced by introducing more oxyethylene groups into the alcohol. The distribution behavior of these compounds betwee n the C8Na micelles and the aqueous phase also depends on the differen ce between the hydrophobicity of the surfactant and the alcohols.