Effect of additives on the cloud point of mixed surfactant (non-ionic Triton X-114+cationic gemini 16-6-16) solutions

Herein we report the effect of additives (e.g., electrolytes, sugars, amino acids, vitamin, etc.) on the cloud point (CP) of nonionic surfactant Triton X-114 in aqueous solutions. CP showed a concentration dependent variation in the absence of any added compound (additives). With addition of additives, decrease and increase of the CP values were observed. It is found that the CP of pure Triton X-114 is concentration dependent; the presence of gemini surfactant (hexanediyl-1,6-bis(dimethylcetylammonium bromide), 16-6-16) increases the CP. However, all additives in the presence of the gemini surfactant (i.e., Triton X-114 + 16-6-16 system) decrease the CP. The results are discussed by taking into consideration the nature of the additives. The clouding components release their solvated water and separate out from the solution. Therefore, the CF of an amphiphile can be considered as the limit of its solubility. The thermodynamic parameters are evaluated at CP. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.