Microstructure and structural transition in coconut oil microemulsion using semidifferential electroanalysis

The microemulsification in coconut oil/octadecyltrimethylammonium bromide/iso-pentanol/water system is investigated. The effect of iso-pentanol concentrations on the size of single-phase microemulsion region is discussed. It is found that the maximum microemulsion domain is obtained when cosurfactant (iso-pentanol)-to-surfactant (octadecyltrimethylammonium bromide) mass ratio is 1.5. The diffusion coefficients of ferrocene (electroactive probe) in microemulsion microenvironment are measured by semidifferential electroanalysis. The microstructure and structural transition from water-in-oil to oil-in-water microemulsions through a bicontinuous structure is examined. The results are found to be in agreement with that of conductivity measurements.

Graphical abstractThe formation of microemulsion (μE)(μE) with high water content in coconut oil/octadecyltrimethylammonium bromide/iso-pentanol/water system (A) and diffusion coefficient of ferrocene in μE medium obtained by semidifferential electroanalysis method as function of water content (B), the microstructure and structural transition from water-in-oil to oil-in-water microemulsions through a bicontinuous structure was examined.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide