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Comparison of Phase Diagrams of Glycerol Type Oxyethylene Type Nonionic Surfactants

Morinobu FUKUDA*, Hisao TSUTSUMI and Kozo SHINODA

Tokyo Research Laboratories, Kao Corporation; 1-3, Bunka 2-chome, Sumida-ku, Tokyo 131-8501 Japan
Physical Chemistry 1, Chemical Center, Lund University; P. O. Box 124, S-221 00 Lund, Sweden

We have studied the characteristics of glycerol type nonionic surfactant (3,3'-oxybis (1,2-propanediol) 1-dodecyl ether; R12G2E) by phase diagram. Comparing with oxyethylene type nonionic surfactant (α-dodecyl-ω-hydroxyhexa (oxyethylene); R12EO6), we have found three unique characters. First, from very low concentration of R12G2E, it could solubilize water and oil. This means these kind of surfactants have a strong lipophobicity as well as a strong hydrophobicity. Second, the amount of R12G2E to solubilize whole water and oil was very small. And third, R12G2E was less affected by the temperature change, comparing with R12EO6.
Because of these characters of R12G2E, its phase diagram on the plane of water/oil=1/1(wt), in water/surfactant/oil system, showed “Humpback-whale” figure, while that of oxyethylene type nonionic surfactant in the same condition showed ordinary “Fish-like” figure.

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