ABSTRACT
The adsorption of cationic and anionic surfactants in free and mixed forms on flexible surface of cellulose fibre has been studied with relation to detergency effect. The extent of adsorption of cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide from aqueous solution to one square meter of solid powders of various types has been estimated at different bulk concentrations of the surfactants using solution depletion techniques. Powdered alumina, silica, barium sulphate, charcoal, metallic chromium, Sephadex, ion exchange resins and cellulose were used as solid surfaces. Somasundaran et al. and others have indicated the formation of two-dimensional aggregates of hemimicelles of long-chain ions at the interface from their studies of the adsorption of alkyl ammonium halides at silica-water interfaces. Alumina and silica being of similar structure may swell significantly with water and form gels. The hydrocarbon part of the adsorbed surfactant cation will therefore tend to lie horizontally in the surface region for attaining maximum hydrophobic effect and minimum interaction with bulk water.
