The application of new thermodynamic adsorption isotherms allow to improve
the description of surfactant adsorption kinetics based on a diffusional tr
ansport. While the consideration of interfacial reorientation corrects appa
rently too high diffusion coefficients, interfacial aggregation avoids too
small diffusion coefficients or the assumption of adsorption barriers. The
adsorption kinetics of alkyl dimethyl phosphine oxides is influenced by int
erfacial reorientation. While the lower homologues (C-8-C-12) follow the cl
assical diffusion model, the higher homologues (C-13-C-15) yield diffusion
coefficients several times larger than the physically reasonable values. As
suming two different adsorption states, the resulting diffusion coefficient
s agree with those expected from the geometric size of the molecules. The m
odel also works well for oxyethylated non-ionics, such as C10EO8. As a seco
nd example, a good theoretical description is obtained for experiments of 1
-decanol solutions when a mean surface aggregation number of n = 2.5 is ass
umed. The same n was obtained from the description of the equilibrium adsor
ption isotherm of 1-decanol. Assuming that the transition from one into the
other state is controlled by a rate constant (change in orientation, forma
tion or disintegration of two-dimensional aggregates) significant changes i
n the kinetics curves can result. The use of additional rate constants yiel
ds an improved fitting to experimental data. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V.
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