INFLUENCE OF SURFACTANTS ON THE ADSORPTION OF METHYL LINOLENATE

Adsorption of methyl linolenate on activated granular carbon and on gl ass powder in methanol water medium was studied by spectrophotometry. The methanol percentage of the solution was determined from turbidity measurements of methyl linolenate in aqueous medium and in the presenc e of surfactants. S-type adsorption isotherm of methyl linolenate was observed at 18-degrees-C on activated granular carbon in 28.57% methan ol-water mixture. This indicates strong intermolecular attraction and perpendicular orientation to the surface. Effect of surfactants (anion ic, cationic, nonionic) having identical hydrophobic group, i.e. C12H2 5) on the adsorption phenomena, at the concentration below. CMC (2.10( -5)M) was studied. Surfactants influenced both adsorption rate and ads orption equilibrium for a certain (mol surfactant/mol methyl linolenat e) ratio range (0.02-0.06). While anionic surfactants decreased the am ount of adsorbed methyl linolenate, the cationic and nonionic ores inc reased it. Maximum effect was observed at the 0.03 ratio. In the studi es on glass powder, it was seen that methanol was adsorbed instead of methy linolenate; the presence of surfactants caused a decrease on met hanol's adsorption. Cationic surfactant is found to be most effective in both cases.