A series of highly branched trichain sulfosuccinate surfactants have been synthesized and studied in condensed CO2 and aqueous environments. Aqueous critical micelle concentrations (CMCs) showed a general trend of increasing CMC with decreasing chain length, whereas increased branching appeared to increase solubility in CO2 and aid the dispersion of water. Near infrared spectra confirmed observed cloud with a large increase in solubility above the cloud pressures in this solvent.
Keywords: Active surfactants; CO2; Near infrared spectroscopy; Tri-chain surfactants.