Neutron reflection study of the adsorption of the phosphate surfactant NaDEHP onto alumina from water

Langmuir. 2015 Mar 24;31(11):3377-84. doi: 10.1021/la504837s. Epub 2015 Mar 11.

Abstract

The adsorption of a phosphorus analogue of the surfactant AOT, sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (NaDEHP), at the water/alumina interface is described. The material is found to adsorb as an essentially water-free bilayer from neutron reflection measurements. This is similar to the behavior of AOT under comparable conditions, although AOT forms a thicker, more hydrated layer. The NaDEHP shows rather little variation with added salt, but a small thickening of the layer on increasing the pH, in contrast to the behavior of AOT.