Partition of dissociable compounds in two-phase liquid systems: a theoretical and experimental study

Mass-spring model of a self-pulsating drop

Self-pulsating sessile drops are a striking example of the richness of far-from-equilibrium liquid/liquid systems. The complex dynamics of such systems is still not fully understood, and simple models are required to grasp the mechanisms at stake. In this article, we present a simple mass-spring mechanical model of the highly regular drop pulsations observed in Pimienta, V.; Brost, M.; Kovalchuk, N.; Bresch, S.; Steinbock, O. Complex shapes and dynamics of dissolving drops of dichloromethane. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2011, 50, 10728-10731. We introduce an effective time-dependent spreading coefficient that sums up all of the forces (due to evaporation, solubilization, surfactant transfer, coffee ring effect, solutal and thermal Marangoni flows, drop elasticity, etc.) that pull or push the edge of a dichloromethane liquid lens, and we show how to account for the periodic rim breakup. The model is examined and compared against experimental observations. The spreading parts of the pulsations are very rapid and cannot be explained by a constant positive spreading coefficient or superspreading.

Mass transfer model of triethylamine across the n-decane/water interface derived from dynamic interfacial tension experiments

This publication presents a detailed experimental and theoretical study of mass transfer of triethylamine (TEA) across the n-decane/water interface. In preliminary investigations, the partition of TEA between n-decane and water is determined. Based on the experimental finding that the dissociation of TEA takes place in the aqueous and in the organic phase, we assume that the interfacial mass transfer is mainly affected by adsorption and desorption of ionized TEA molecules at the liquid/liquid interface. Due to the amphiphilic structure of the dissociated TEA molecules, a dynamic interfacial tension measurement technique can be used to experimentally determine the interfacial mass transport. A model-based approach, which accounts for diffusive mass transport in the finite liquid bulk phases and for adsorption and desorption of ionized TEA molecules at the interface, is employed to analyze the experimental data. In the equilibrium state, the interfacial tension of dissociated TEA at the n-decane/water interface can be adequately described by the Langmuir isotherm. The comparison between the theoretical and the experimental dynamic interfacial tension data reveals that an additional activation energy barrier for adsorption and desorption at the interface has to be regarded to accurately describe the mass transport of TEA from the n-decane phase into the aqueous phase. Corresponding adsorption rate constants can be obtained by fitting the theoretical predictions to the experimental data. Interfacial tension measurements of mass transfer from the aqueous into the organic phase are characterized by interfacial instabilities caused by Marangoni convection, which result in an enhancement of the transfer rate across the interface.

Association, partition, and surface activity in biphasic systems displaying relaxation oscillations

Several biphasic systems giving rise to periodical Marangoni instability have been analyzed from the point of view of the physicochemical properties of the involved compounds. In each case, the compound at the origin of the oscillatory behavior has been identified: the reactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) for the CTAB/picric acid (PH) system and the product of reaction dodecyl sulfate tetraalkylammonium (TAADS) for the sodium dodecyl sulfate/tetraalkylammonium bromide (SDS/TAAB) system. The properties of the latter system have been varied progressively by increasing the chain length of the tetraalkylammonium ion. Oscillations were observed whichever the direction of transfer (from water to dichloromethane and from dichloromethane to water). The comparison of the dynamic interfacial tension, recorded during transfer, to equilibrium measurements shows that the instability is favored when partition is highly in favor of the organic phase. The main criteria for the appearance of the instability are a high surface activity and a low interfacial adsorption.

Amphiphilic Organic Ion Pairs in Solution: A Theoretical Study

The macroscopic manifestation of hydrophobic interactions for amphiphilic organic ion pairs (tetraalkylammonium-anion) has been shown experimentally by measuring their association constants and their affinity with the organic phase. Beyond a certain size, there is a direct relation between association constants and chain lengths in tetraalkylammonium ions. We propose to cast a bridge between these results and geometrical properties considered at the level of a single ion pair by means of quantum chemistry calculations performed on model systems: trimethylalkylammonium-pentyl sulfate instead of tetraalkylammonium-dodecyl sulfate. Two limiting cases are considered: head-to-head configurations, which yield an optimal electrostatic interaction between polar heads, and parallel configurations with a balance between electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions. All properties (geometries, complexation energies, and atomic charges) were obtained at the MP2 level of calculation, with water described by a continuum model (CPCM). Dispersion forces link hydrocarbon chains of tetraalkylammonium ions and pentyl sulfate, thus yielding (for the largest ion pairs) parallel configurations favored with respect to head-to-head geometries by solute-solvent electrostatic interactions. Given the small experimental association energies, we probe the accuracy limit of the MP2 and CPCM methods. However, clear trends are obtained as a function of chain length, which agree with the experimental observations. The calculated monotonic stabilization of ion pairs when the hydrocarbon chain increases in length is discussed in terms of electrostatic interactions (between ions and between ion pairs and water), dispersion forces, and cavitation energies.