Formation of carboxymethylchitosan/gemini surfactant adsorption layers at the air/water interface: Effects of association in the bulk

The surface properties of mixed solutions containing an anionic polyelectrolyte, carboxymethylchitosan (CMCH), and a cationic gemini surfactant, 1,2-bis(dodecyldimethlyammonio)hexane dibromide (C12C6C12), were studied by measuring the surface tension and the dynamic surface elasticity. The association behaviors in the solutions were also measured by fluorescence probe technique. The results showed that the adsorption layer transformed from pure elastic 2D layer to visco-elastic 3D layer with increase in surfactant concentration. The microparticles in the 3D layer were adsorbed from the adjacent bulk to the surface but not formed directly in the surface layer as it was sometimes assumed in other polyelectrolyte/surfactant systems. The stress relaxation mechanism were supposed to be the mass exchange between the unstructured thinner film surrounding the microparticles and the adjacent bulk during the surface compression or expansion. These surface properties of CMCH/C12C6C12 solutions were influenced strongly by the association in the bulk solution.