Synthesis and study of nonionic surfactants based on propylene oxide and lauric acid

Abstract

Nonionic surfactants were synthesized at various molar ratios of propylene oxide and lauric acid. Propoxylation products were identified by a number of physico-chemical analytical methods. The tensiometric method was used to measure the surface tension of aqueous solutions of the products at interface with air, find their high surface activity, and determine certain colloidal-chemical parameters (critical micelle concentration, surface pressure, maximum adsorption, minimum cross-sectional area of a molecule, change in the Gibbs free energy in micelle-formation and adsorption processes). Laboratory studies of the oil-collecting capacity of these substances were carried out for the example of a thin oil film on the surface of water with varied degree of mineralization.