Nikolaev Institute of Inorganic Chemistry

Paper in Crystal Growth & Design

The article of NIIC researches Bulavchenko A.I., Beketova D.I., Podlipskaya T.Yu, and Demidova M.G. is published in Crystal Growth & Design (IF 4.689)

Alexander I. Bulavchenko, Darya I. Beketova, Tatyana Yu. Podlipskaya, and Marina G. Demidova«Composition and Size of Reverse Micelles of Tergitol NP‑4 and Tergitol NP‑4 + AOT in N‑Decane during Evaporation Crystallization of KNO₃»Cryst. Growth Des. 2014, 14, 3, 1142−1148DOI: 10.1021/cg401610m

Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, photon−correlation spectroscopy, and flame photometry were used to determine the rate of water evaporation, hydrodynamic diameter of micelles, and the content of water and K⁺ and Na⁺ ions in the studied microemulsions at different stages of evaporation crystallization of KNO₃. In accordance with the Gibbs−Thomson (Kelvin) theory, high supersaturations suggest that in mixed micelles cores of smaller sizes are formed (up to 13 M). During crystallization, micelles with KNO₃ solution coexist with KNO₃ crystals. The function of micelles is to supply “building material” for their growth.

In accordance with the Gibbs−Thomson (Kelvin) theory, high supersaturations suggest that in mixed micelles cores of KNO₃ of smaller sizes are formed.