Dissolution of a surfactant-containing active porous material

• Published in: Journal of colloid and interface science Vol. 328; no. 2; pp. 344 - 352
• Main Authors: Brielles, Nelly, Chantraine, Florence, Viana, Marylène, Chulia, Dominique, Branlard, Paul, Rubinstenn, Gilles, Lequeux, François, Mondain-Monval, Olivier
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 15.12.2008; Elsevier
• Subjects: Chemical Sciences; Chemistry; Colloidal state and disperse state; Condensed Matter; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Materials Science; Physics; Polymers; Porous materials; Powder materials; Surface physical chemistry; Surfactant solutions; Wetting properties; Wetting properties; Powder materials; Surfactant solutions; Porous materials; Modification; Wetting; Prediction; Solubility; Imbibition; Surfactant; Dissolution; Porous material; Powder; Liquid; Depletion; Capillarity; Kinetics
• ISSN: 0021-9797; 1095-7103
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2008.07.060

We have studied the imbibition and dissolution of a porous material in two separate scenarios: (1) when the porous material contains a surfactant powder and (2) when the porous material is dissolved in a surfactant solution. We show that the dissolution kinetics in both scenarios is significantly affected by the presence of the surfactant and results in an increase in the characteristic imbibition time of the porous material, which can be well understood in the framework of the classical law of capillarity. Slowing of the imbibition kinetics was found to be affected by a modification of the liquid wetting properties, but is also affected by a variation in the solubility of the porous material in the presence of the surfactant. Furthermore, there is a depletion effect of the surfactant inside the rising liquid, which is in good agreement with previous work and theoretical predictions. (a) Scheme of the set-up used to measure the imbibition of a tablet from the bottom. (b) Enlighted tablet: the wetted part looks whiter.