The influence of surfactant (SDS) on the adsorption properties of polyvinyl alcohol and polyethylene glycol in an alumina/solution system

The influence of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) on the adsorption properties of non-ionic polymers, i.e. polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), at the Al2O3/solution interface was studied. Measurements for various molecular weights and for various amounts of functional groups on the polymer macromolecules were undertaken and the results obtained discussed in the light of these variations. Studies of the mutual interactions of the polymer-surfactant system in aqueous solution were helpful in explaining the equilibria involved in the Al2O3/polymer solution system in the presence of SDS. The thickness of the adsorption layer was determined by visco-metric methods and the influence of the degree of hydrolysis of PVA on the structure of the adsorption layer demonstrated.