The interaction of divalent anionic surfactants with gelatin

Abstract

Most of the research on polymer-surfactant interactions is focused on single-chain, single-charged surfactants. Quite a large number of reviews have been written on this subject, and amongst the variety of systems that have been studied is that between surfactants and proteins which is of relevance to many industrial ad biological processes. This dissertation is focused on a detailed study of the properties of a single-chain, double-charged surfactant, namely sodium monododecyl phosphate (SDP), as well as its interactions with the protein gelatin, and its behaviour compared with that of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). Techniques employed to study these interactions included conductimetry, surface tensiometry, fluorimetry and proton abstraction studies. Dynamic light scattering and zeta potential studies were also used to study changes in the size and the zeta potential of gelatin chains when the surfactants are added to a gelatin solution