title: On the adsorption kinetics of surface-chemically pure n-dodecanoic acid at the air/water interface.
abstract: The dynamic surface tension data for n-dodecanoic acid in 0.005 M hydrochloric acid, for as-received as well as for surface-chemically pure solutions, show the presence of a prolonged induction period, clearly indicating that the adsorption of this nonionic surfactant is not simply diffusion-controlled. A kinetic model for the reversible formation of monolayer islands, long known in the field of electrochemistry, is shown to also apply to the adsorption of n-dodecanoic acid at the air/water interface. The rate constant increases linearly with increasing bulk concentration, while the induction time decreases exponentially. The phenomenon of nucleation at the air/water interface is consistent with the direct experimental observation of the formation of solid-like patches as the interfacial region is drastically compressed.
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, D-14424 Potsdam, Germany.
authors.forename: Alissa J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Prosser
authors.forename: Utz
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Retter
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lunkenheimer
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D000388:Air; D007700:Kinetics; D007850:Lauric Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D044367:Phase Transition; D012996:Solutions / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties; D013500:Surface Tension; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D007850:Lauric Acids; D012996:Solutions; D014867:Water