ICSC PAS Articles

Displaying 1 - 5 of 27 records

Foams based on biosurfactants solutions. Part I. Influence of biosurfactant origin on foaming properties
(Elsevier Ltd., 2024-06-12) Krzan, Marcel; Drabczyk, Anna; Kudłacik-Kramarczyk, Sonia; Jamroży, Mateusz; Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland; Faculty of Materials Engineering and Physics, Cracow University of Technology, Poland
This paper reviews the literature on various natural and synthetic biosurfactants, which can facilitate the process of foam formation and stabilisation. Biosurfactants are an alternative to classical surfactants. For example, proteins, through their stabilising properties, can be used both in the food industry and in cosmetics, and this confirms their versatile properties and application in many areas of industry. Sugar-based foaming agents, on the other hand, are characterised by their ability to maintain high foam stability, and their natural origin and biodegradability are attractive substitutes for classical compounds of this type. This review aims to compare the effects of various compounds on the properties and stability of foams. Research on such materials will allow the development of innovative foaming technologies that minimise the negative environmental impacts of foaming compounds without losing the properties of the final product.
Effects of interfacial hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions on the adsorption and foaming properties in saponin mixtures
(Elsevier BV, 2026-05-20) Krzan, Marcel; Pani, Ipsita; Jamroży, Mateusz; Kieres, Weronika; Kudłacik-Kramarczyk, Sonia; Nattich-Rak, Małgorzata; Płaziński, Wojciech; Vaculikova, Lenka; Plevova, Eva; Krzan, Bartłomiej; Chattopadhyay, Pradipta; Warszyński, Piotr; Braunschweig, Björn; Jerzy Haber Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland; Institute of Physical Chemistry and Center for Soft Nanoscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany; Institute of Geonics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Ostrava Poruba, Czech Republic; Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland; Department of Chemical Engineering, BITS-Pilani, Pilani, Rajasthan, India
Understanding how molecular additives modulate the interfacial structure and foaming behaviour of natural surfactants is essential for the design of high-performance, sustainable formulations. Here, we investigate how hydrogen-bond donor and acceptor additives – glycerol, choline chloride, and urea - modify the interfacial architecture of Quillaja saponin extract solutions. A multi-technique approach combining surface tension, interfacial dilational rheology, foam stability measurements, vibrational sum-frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy, electrokinetic analysis, and atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations reveals distinct additive-specific mechanisms at the molecular level. Using SFG spectroscopy, we resolved the additive-induced reorganisation of interfacial saponins and interfacial water molecules. Glycerol reduces the fraction of more strongly hydrogen-bonded interfacial water without altering surface tension, indicating interfacial insertion and reorientation while the overall macroscopic surface activity remains largely unchanged. In contrast, urea redistributes spectral weight toward strongly hydrogen-bonded interfacial water without significantly altering the overall surface excess of saponin, while decreasing headgroup–water contributions, thereby impairing the formation of lateral hydrogen bonds between neighbouring saponins and reducing the elasticity of the surface layer. Choline chloride induces pronounced suppression of the OH stretching band from interfacial water, consistent with charge screening and a substantial reduction of the interfacial net charge. MD simulations corroborate these findings by revealing that glycerol has more frequent contacts with the saccharide region of saponin, supporting strong interfacial cohesion. The high propensity of urea to interact with the polar residues of saponin explains the redistribution of interfacial water and headgroup hydroxyls observed in SFG spectra.
Effect of Organic Vapors on the Behavior of Air Bubbles in Solutions of Nonionic and Ionic Surfactants
(American Chemical Society, 2025-10-10) Kosior, Dominik; Gochev, Georgi; Batys, Piotr; Witkowski, Łukasz; Zaręba, Klaudia W.; Warszyński, Piotr; Zawala, Jan; Jerzy Haber Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences
We explored the physicochemical aspects of the problem of a rising air bubble in an aqueous surfactant solution, where saturated n-hexane vapor is present within the bubble. The rising velocity profiles of these bubbles were measured in pure water and salt-free solutions of a nonionic (n-octanol) or cationic (dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide, C12TAB) surfactant at various concentrations. They were compared with the results for corresponding hexane-free systems. Additionally, dynamic surface tension for stationary bubbles was measured using bubble profile analysis tensiometry. To support these experimental data, we conducted an investigation using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. For pure water, both surface tension measurements and MD simulations confirmed the adsorption of n-hexane molecules from the vapor phase to the stationary water interface, which is consistent with the literature reports. However, the rising bubble velocity was not affected by n-hexane vapor. We discuss this intriguing finding within the context of hydrodynamic forces. In the surfactant systems, a strong effect of coadsorption of surfactant from the solution and n-hexane from the vapor phase was observed in all investigations. The surface tension isotherms were theoretically described using a modified Frumkin adsorption model, additionally accounting for the ionic nature of C12TAB and the coadsorption of n-hexane from the vapor. The free energy of adsorption exhibited a strong correlation with the free energy profiles at the interface, as determined by MD simulations. The rising bubble data were theoretically analyzed in terms of the drag coefficient and the extent of bubble deformation. However, studies of the bubble velocity profiles revealed some unusual features, particularly during the dynamic layer formation phase.
Dynamic nanostructures at the surface of rising bubbles in amphiphile solutions: Comparison of low-molecular-weight surfactants and proteins
(Elsevier B.V., 2025-03-10) Witkowski, Łukasz; Wiertel-Pochopien, Agata; Kosior, Dominik; Gochev, Georgi G.; Warszynski, Piotr; Fuller, Gerald G.; Zawala, Jan; Jerzy Haber Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland; Institute of Physical Chemistry, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria; Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
The formation, stability, and decay of foams occur under dynamic conditions. Given their inherent complexity, an accurate description of these subprocesses necessitates an analysis of multiple factors, with a particular focus on the formation and structure of the adsorption layer. Single rising bubble techniques facilitate a deeper comprehension of the dynamics of diverse phenomena in foams, as they yield experimental data under dynamic conditions. This review examines the subtle differences in the dynamic adsorption structures of low-molecular-weight surfactants and proteins at the liquid/gas interface. These differences can significantly impact interfacial properties and potentially alter our understanding of the mechanisms behind the formation of the Dynamic Adsorption Layer (DAL). The primary techniques under consideration are local velocity profiles (LVPs) of single rising bubbles and dynamic fluid-film interferometry (DFI) of the thin liquid film formed at the collision of a bubble with a free liquid surface. We provide a summary of recent findings on the topic. Due to the limited availability of comprehensive datasets on proteins, our discussion is partially supplemented by newly obtained unpublished data. We highlight key differences in the behavior of bubbles in low-molecular-weight surfactant solutions versus protein solutions that have previously been overlooked in the literature. We explore their potential origins in the context of DAL dynamics and architecture.
Effect of Synthetic Polypeptide–Bio-Surfactant Composition on the Formation and Stability of Foams
(MDPI, 2024-10-30) Kosior, Dominik; Wiertel-Pochopien, Agata; Morga, Maria; Witkowski, Łukasz; Zawala, Jan; Jerzy Haber Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland
Abstract: In recent decades, numerous studies have focused on finding environmentally friendly substitutes for commonly used petrochemical-based compounds. This paper explores the potential use of poly-L-lysine/rhamnolipids and poly-L-glutamic acid/ethyl lauroyl arginate mixtures, for foam formation and stabilization. Two complementary methods were employed to investigate the synergistic and antagonistic effects of these mixed polyelectrolyte/surfactant systems: (1) the thinning and rupture of thin foam films formed under dynamic conditions were monitored using a dynamic fluid-film interferometer (DFI), and (2) foamability tests were conducted using a standard dynamic foam analyzer (DFA). The results demonstrated that adding polyelectrolyte to an oppositely charged surfactant primarily induces a synergistic effect, enhancing foaming properties and extending foam lifetime. Furthermore, interferometric methods confirmed improved stability and slower drainage of thin foam films in systems containing synthetic polypeptides.

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