Mixed aggregates based on tetronic-fluorinated surfactants for selective oils capture

Abstract

An aqueous star-like copolymer solution was titrated with perfluoro carboxylic acids at various compositions to prepare a polymeric surfactant composed of fluorinated nano-domains. The copolymer is X-shaped where each arm contains ethylene oxide and propylene oxide repetitive units linked to a central ethylenediamine group. The aggregation behavior of the hybrid macromolecule was studied from the physico-chemical point of view by changing parameters like temperature and composition. The solubilization of perfluorinated and hydrogenated alcohols in mixed self-assembled structure revealed that a selectivity toward the fluorinated moiety can be done. The self-assembled structures are promising for applications where the coexistence of nano-domains with dual lipophobic and hydrophobic character is required. Therefore, they are tools to incorporate selectively hydrogenated and fluorinated oils sparingly soluble in water.