Doctoral Dissertations

Abstract

"A study of the anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and the dependency of the adsorption of divalent metal counterions such as copper and zinc at the air-water interface on its concentration in the solution, was undertaken in order to better understand the process of ion flotation. The study is divided into two broad categories, the first of which consists of the evaluation of the extent of aggregation of the surfactant molecules into micelles, and the effect of the divalent metal counterion concentration on this aggregation and on the critical concentration at which micelles start forming (cmc). This was accomplished using well established light scattering and surface tension techniques, which were also used in the investigation of the influence of surfactant concentration on the precipitation of lead dodecyl sulfate. The adsorption of divalent counterions at air-water interfaces comprised the second category of this research, and it was conducted using conventional equilibrium surface tension measurements and an established foaming technique. The following conclusions were drawn: 1) The adsorption of divalent metal counterions at air-water interfaces, and therefore, the flotation of these ions is largely independent of the type of divalent counterion. 2) Optimum flotation conditions for divalent counterions occur in surfactant solutions containing no micelles. Since the stability of the foam, a desirable feature in ion flotation, increases with the concentration of the surfactant, the best conditions for ion flotation occur at the cmc. 3) The competing adsorption of the divalent metal counterions at the micellar shear interface is primarily responsible for the decrease in the adsorption of these counterions at the air-water interface. 4) The competing adsorption of divalent lead counterions at the micellar shear interface is apparently responsible for the increase in the solubility of Pb(DS)₂ in concentrated sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) solutions. It was possible to propose a theory, based on the potential calculations of the electrical double layers of flat and spherical surfaces, which correlated most of the observations made in this research"--Abstract, page ii-iii.

Advisor(s)

Venable, Raymond L., 1935-2008

Committee Member(s)

Carroll, William R.
Leighly, Hollis P., 1923-2004
Marshall, C. Edmund
Roach, D. Vincent
Weart, Harry W.

Department(s)

Materials Science and Engineering

Degree Name

Ph. D. in Metallurgical Engineering

Sponsor(s)

United States. Office of Water Resources Research

Publisher

University of Missouri--Rolla

Publication Date

1968

Pagination

ix, 115 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (pages 79-83).

Rights

© 1968 Uriel Michael Oko, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Dissertation - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Subject Headings

Metal ionsMetallurgy -- Ion exchange processMicellesOrganosulfur compounds

Thesis Number

T 2189

Print OCLC #

6000794

Electronic OCLC #

806325457

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Metallurgy Commons

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