pH-responsive anionic wormlike micelle based on sodium oleate induced by NaCl.

A pH-responsive anionic surfactant wormlike micellar system induced by NaCl has been developed. In this work, the anionic surfactant, sodium oleate (NaOA) solutions, transforms from low-viscosity fluid into high-viscoelastic solution induced by NaCl of 200 mM to 350 mM concentration. According to the above, the solution reversibility has been studied via changing pH value of the solution. This pH-responsive solution can be promptly switched between gel-like solution and waterlike fluid in a narrow pH value range. Steady and dynamic rheological measurements are employed to characterize the pH-responsiveness at different pH. The transformation between wormlike micelle and spherical micelle in the various pH solutions is demonstrated by dynamic light scattering tests, cryo-TEM, and NMR measurements. The pH-responsive property of the system is attributed to the carboxylate ion contained by sodium oleate. With higher pH value, the ionized carboxylate combines with NaCl closely and thus forms wormlike micelles. On the contrary, sodium oleate converts to oleate acid when pH decreases. In this way, spherical micelles are transformed because of the weaker interaction between oleate aicd and NaCl.