We have studied the characteristics of glycerol type nonionic surfactant (3,3′-oxybis (1,2-propanediol) 1-dodecyl ether; R
12G
2E) by phase diagram. Comparing with oxyethylene type nonionic surfactant (
α-dodecyl-
ω-hydroxyhexa (oxyethylene); R
12EO
6), we have found three unique characters. First, from very low concentration of R
12G
2E, it could solubilize water and oil. This means these kind of surfactants have a strong lipophobicity as well as a strong hydrophobicity. Second, the amount of R
12G
2E to solubilize whole water and oil was very small. And third, R
12G
2E was less affected by the temperature change, comparing with R
12EO
6.
Because of these characters of R
12G
2E, its phase diagram on the plane of water/oil = 1/1(wt), in water/surfactant/oil system, showed “Humpback-whale” figure, while that of oxyethylene type nonionic surfactant in the same condition showed ordinary “Fish-like” figure.
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