Journals Proceedings

Abstract

Rhamnolipid biosurfactant modified-surfaces were prepared to adsolubilize styrene in their admicellar structures with and without a coupling of linker molecules; three systems of alcohol containing different number of carbon atoms in alkyl chain (1-butanol, 1-octanol and 1-dodecanol). The effects of linker molecules to styrene adsolubilization on the rhamnolipid biosurfactant modified-surface were investigated. The partitioning of styrene into an admicelle is described by the admicellar partition coefficient (Kadm). Results showed that rhamnolipid biosurfactant with the present of linker molecules had the larger Kadm value than those containing of surfactant alone (Kadm= 3042). In addition, Kadm values increased with respect to the carbon atoms in alcohol molecules. In considering the effect of linker molecules, the Kadm for the mixture of dodecanol (12-Carbon), octanol (8-Carbon) and butanol (4- Carbon) were 4070, 3759 and 3612, respectively. The result indicated that the adsolubilization capacity increased with increasing carbon chain lengths of linker molecules, since linker molecules can enhance the adsolubilization capacity of styrene by enlarging the adsolubilization region in the admicelle through partitioning with surfactant tails.