Polyelectrolyte Surfactant Complexes

Presenter Information

Kathleen Buck

Document Type

Oral Presentation

Campus where you would like to present

SURC 137A

Start Date

17-5-2012

End Date

17-5-2012

Abstract

Anionic polyelectrolyte’s when in solution with cationic surfactants form polyelectrolyte-surfactant complexes (PSC). These PSCs display unique characteristics, which have possible implications in the removal of water-soluble organic compounds form water to be used for human consumption. The goal of this research is to understand how these PSCs interact in the absence of water-soluble organic compounds. A model system involving polysodium-4 styrenesulfonate as a polyelectrolyte and cetylpyridinumbromide as the surfactant will be employed in this study with titanium dioxide (TiO2) present aid in the removal of the PSC from solution. The concentration of polyelectrolyte is held constant while the concentration of surfactant is adjusted over a range of 40 to 520 times the polyelectrolyte concentration. The range is then used to conclude at what point the PSC crashes out of the solution. To determine the amount of PSC that is remaining suspended in solution, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy will be used. Data from these results will then be compared with an analysis already completed in the research lab involving the PSC interacting with organic compounds; to help better understand how the polyelectrolyte surfactant complex interacts with the organic dye compounds, in the presence of TiO2.

Faculty Mentor(s)

Dion Rivera

Additional Mentoring Department

Chemistry

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May 17th, 12:40 PM May 17th, 12:59 PM

Polyelectrolyte Surfactant Complexes

SURC 137A

Anionic polyelectrolyte’s when in solution with cationic surfactants form polyelectrolyte-surfactant complexes (PSC). These PSCs display unique characteristics, which have possible implications in the removal of water-soluble organic compounds form water to be used for human consumption. The goal of this research is to understand how these PSCs interact in the absence of water-soluble organic compounds. A model system involving polysodium-4 styrenesulfonate as a polyelectrolyte and cetylpyridinumbromide as the surfactant will be employed in this study with titanium dioxide (TiO2) present aid in the removal of the PSC from solution. The concentration of polyelectrolyte is held constant while the concentration of surfactant is adjusted over a range of 40 to 520 times the polyelectrolyte concentration. The range is then used to conclude at what point the PSC crashes out of the solution. To determine the amount of PSC that is remaining suspended in solution, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy will be used. Data from these results will then be compared with an analysis already completed in the research lab involving the PSC interacting with organic compounds; to help better understand how the polyelectrolyte surfactant complex interacts with the organic dye compounds, in the presence of TiO2.