Experimental and Theoretical Studies of Reverse Micelles in Dense Gases. Final Report, October 1989-October 1992.

摘要

Dense gas micellar systems possess a number of unique properties which make them potentially attractive for use in separation processes. This project aims at determining if such applications are viable by examining the relationship between aggregate or micelle size and pressure and the addition of salt. Our work has shown that both pressure and the addition of salt drastically affect the formation of surfactant aggregates in light hydrocarbon-water mixtures. Increases in pressure produce corresponding increases in the hydrocarbon density which dramatically improves the solubility of surfactant in the hydrocarbon phase and causes the formation of more surfactant aggregates. The addition of salt changes the behavior in two ways. The presence of salt lowers the pressure required to begin the formation of aggregates. Also as salt concentration is increased, the aggregates shrink in size. We have also observed that mixtures of light hydrocarbons are more effective solvents for surfactant than any individual light hydrocarbons.