Determination of micellar system behavior in the presence of salt and water-soluble polymers using the phase diagram technique

Abstract

The application of micellar systems has been growing during the last years because of their importance in various practical situations. Continued development of their application is necessary. If the principal economic interest of microemulsions is for some time enhanced oil recovery, the following also have significant applications such as pharmaceutical preparations, painting, and products for engine lubrication. The effect of variation in composition of anionic surfactants (α oleifin sulfonates) and the presence of a water-soluble charged polymer (Xanthan gum) and an uncharged polymer [poly (ethylene glycol)] on the phase behaviour of pseudo- ternary systems of water–oil surfactants was investigated. Several domains were observed when the composition of surfactants and cosurfactants (e.g., pentanol) in a mixture is varied. The appearance of these domains in the phase diagram has been attributed to the formation of different Winsor systems.