Study on Solution Behavior of Green Gemini-Conventional Mixed Systems and their Solubilization Capability Towards Phenanthrene

In the present study green ester bonded cationic gemini surfactants, Ethane-1,2-diyl bis (N,N-dimethyl-N-hexadecylammonium acetoxy)dichloride (16E216) and 2,2’-{(oxybis(ethane1,2-diyl)bis(oxy)bis(N-alkyl-N,N-dimethyl-2-hexadecyl oxoethanaminium)dichloride (16E316) were synthesized and evaluated for their various physicochemical and other interaction parameters with their mixtures with conventional surfactants namely (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) by tensiometry. Much lower cmc values of the order of 250 times were observed for 16E216 and 16E316 than conventional surfactants. Further, synergistic interaction occurs between the gemini and conventional surfactants as a result of negative interaction parameters. The mixed systems were also investigated for the solubilization of polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), Phenanthrene. Among the pure surfactants, 16E216 has the highest and CTAB has the lowest efficiency for phenanthrene. Solubility enhancement was observed for almost all gemini-conventional mixed systems and shows better solubilization properties than pure surfactant systems due to synergism. The morphologies of pure and mixed systems were examined by TEM imaging. Findings of the present study could be exploited to use such mixed surfactant systems as the successful remediation technology for PAH contaminated soils.