Clouding phenomena and thermodynamics of TX-100 + polyethylene glycol mixture: influence of several electrolytes

Herein, the solution properties of Triton X-100 (TX-100) and polyethylene glycol ( PEG) mixtures in H 2 O and salt (potassium, sodium, and ammonium) solutions have been observed through the cloud point (CP) detection technique. The present observation reveals that the values of CP of the TX-100 + PEG mixed solution, in the presence of different salts, undergo a decrease compared to the values found in H 2 O medium. The anion of common salts, such as sodium, potassium, and ammonium, was found to reduce the values of CP in the sample mixtures in the order: SO 4 2− > Cl − > PO 4 3− . The Δ G c 0 value was calculated as positive in all experimental cases, and this observation manifests a non-spontaneous nature of clouding system. The non-spontaneity of TX-100 + PEG clouding process was gradually declined with the enhancement of salt concentrations. The Δ H c 0 and Δ S c 0 values were found negative, which experience a decrease with the addition of more concentrated salt solutions in almost all of the cases studied. The negative values of Δ H c 0 and Δ S c 0 indicate the existence of exothermic interactions (hydrogen bonding and weak dipole–dipole forces) operating between TX-100 and PEG. A linear relationship was established between Δ H c 0 and Δ S c 0 with R 2 values in the range of 0.9997–1.00.