Co-surfactant Micelle Reduction and Microemulsion Formation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surfactant compositions lack effective reduction in particle diameter of surfactant micelles and microemulsion forming ability, which limits their detergency and stability.
Innovation Solution
A co-surfactant comprising compounds represented by Chemical Formula (1), where R1 and R2 are aliphatic hydrocarbon groups with specific carbon atom ranges, and X is a single bond, enhancing the surfactant's micelle reduction and microemulsion forming ability when used in combination with surfactants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional surfactant compositions are used, then basic surfactant functions are provided, but particle diameter of surfactant micelles cannot be effectively reduced and microemulsion forming ability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a composite co-surfactant system combining two distinct compounds: a glyceryl ether compound (Compound 1) and a polyol compound (Compound 2). This composite approach allows the first compound to reduce micelle particle diameter while the second compound stabilizes the micelles, resolving the contradiction between reducing size and maintaining stability. The synergistic interaction between the two compounds achieves both smaller particle diameter and enhanced micelle stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention optimizes specific molecular parameters of the co-surfactant compounds, including the carbon atom numbers in hydrocarbon chains (R1: 8-22, R2: 4-10), the number of oxyethylene units (3-20), and the molar ratio between the two compounds (0.1:9.9 to 9.9:0.1). These parameter optimizations enable effective micelle size reduction while maintaining stability through precise molecular design.
2Reliability
If conventional surfactant compositions are used, then detergency is provided, but microemulsion forming ability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The composite co-surfactant system combines Compound 1 (glyceryl ether type) which provides detergency, with Compound 2 (polyol type) which enhances microemulsion forming ability. This composite approach allows the composition to achieve both effective detergency and superior microemulsion formation, overcoming the limitations of conventional single-compound co-surfactants.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention assigns different functional roles to different compounds in the co-surfactant system: Compound 1 primarily provides detergency through its glyceryl ether structure, while Compound 2 primarily enhances microemulsion forming ability through its polyol structure. This functional differentiation allows simultaneous optimization of both detergency and microemulsion formation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The co-surfactant improves surfactant micelle stability and microemulsion forming ability, resulting in enhanced detergency and micelle stability when used with surfactants, particularly in oil recovery applications.
Implementation Method 1
reduction in particle diameter of surfactant micelles
Implementation Method 2
development of microemulsion forming ability
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a co-surfactant which, when used in combination with a surfactant, can reduce the size of the surfactant micelle and can enhance the functions of the surfactant, such as the expression of microemulsion formation performance. This co-surfactant contains at least one compound represented by chemical formula (1). (In the formula, R1 is a hydrogen atom or a C1-C33 aliphatic hydrocarbon group, R2 is a C1-C33 aliphatic hydrocarbon group, the total number of carbons of R1 and R2 is 6-34, X is a single bond or a C1-C5 aliphatic hydrocarbon group, and one of A1 and A2 is -OH and the other is -O-CH2-CH(OH)-CH2OH or -O-CH(-CH2-OH)2.)