title: Aqueous phase behavior of tetraethylene glycol decanoyl ester (C9COE4) and Ether (C10E4) investigated by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic techniques.
abstract: The binary phase diagram of tetraethylene glycol decanoyl ester (C9COE4) was investigated in the micellar region by PGSE-NMR (pulse field gradient spin echo nuclear magnetic resonance) and in the lamellar liquid crystalline state by 2H NMR. Its behavior was compared to the ether counterpart, tetraethylene glycol decanoyl ether (C10E4), whose phase diagram is well-described. The determination of the self-diffusion coefficient as a function of concentration permitted not only a determination of the critical micellar concentration (cmc) values but also the determination of the size and shape of micelles formed by both compounds. The evolution of the self-diffusion coefficients in the vicinity of the cloud point was also studied, showing no micellar growth with increasing temperature. 2H NMR analyses at the border of and within the liquid crystalline region gave an insight into the lamellar phase structure. We investigated in detail the lamellar phase of both compounds by comparing the values of quadrupolar splittings (Deltanu) measured under the same conditions. Lower Deltanu values were found for the ester compared to the ether: since the ester probably binds more water than the ether, these lower Deltanu values would indicate a lower order parameter in the liquid crystal phase. NMR techniques, either PGSE-NMR or 2H NMR, were confirmed as useful tools to characterize aqueous phase behavior of surfactants, providing supplementary information to the classical techniques such as visual observations, polarized optical microscopy (POM), and surface tension measurements. They also provide a unique insight into the molecular organization in the different phases formed.
authors.affiliation: LCOM, Equipe RMN et Photochimie, UMR CNRS 8009, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Lille 2, BP 83, 59006 Lille Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Anne-Gaëlle
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Fournial
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Molinier
authors.forename: Gaston
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vermeersch
authors.forename: Jean-Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Aubry
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Azaroual
mesh_terms: D004058:Diffusion; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008823:Micelles; D008853:Microscopy; D044367:Phase Transition; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D013500:Surface Tension; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D008823:Micelles; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; C525699:tetraethylene glycol decanoyl ester; D014867:Water; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C069485:decyltetraoxyethylene glycol monoether