The effect of surfactants on oxygen mass-transfer through the air-water interface

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2002:Spec No 1:39-42. doi: 10.1007/BF02987424.

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to investigate the oxygen transfer rate through the water-air interface in the presence of different concentrations of various surfactants. The surfactants used in the current study were methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol and 1-butanol. The measurements were performed with an apparatus based on the electrochemical oxygen sensor. Theresults obtained showed that the impediment to oxygen mass-transfer through the water-air interface depends on the molecular structure and concentration of the surfactant used. A simple mathematical model was proposed, which allowed us to calculate the characteristic constants of surfactants--K' and deltak starting from the experimental results. K' is the reciprocal of the equilibrium constant of adsorption process and deltak characterizes the influence of the surfactant to oxygen mass-transfer through the air-water interface.

MeSH terms

  • Adsorption
  • Air
  • Kinetics
  • Models, Theoretical*
  • Oxygen / chemistry*
  • Surface-Active Agents / chemistry*
  • Water

Substances

  • Surface-Active Agents
  • Water
  • Oxygen