INTERFACIAL COMPOSITION OF MICROEMULSIONS: MODIFIED SCHULMAN-BOWCOTT MODEL

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Abstract
The interfacial composition of oil-external microemulsions formed with sodium stearate, pentanol, brine and various oils (octane, dodecane and hexadecane) was determined in terms of moles of alcohol per mole of surfactant present at the interface (nii a/n3,) using a modified three compartment Schulman-Bowcott model. The modified model takes into account the solubility of pentanol in aqueous and hydrocarbon phases. For a constant brine/surfactant ratio, it was found that the value of (nii a/n3,) was highest for dodecane containing microemulsion which corresponded to the maximum solubilization of brine in this microemulsion at optimal salinity. This behavior is explained on the basis of chain length compatibility in microemulsions. The optimal salinity for solubilization increased with the chainlength of oil.