Effect of Oil/Water Ratios on the Phase Behavior and the Solubilization Ability of Microemulsion Systems Containing Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate

An α – ε – β fish-like phase diagram of three phase microemulsions was proposed and used to investigate the phase behavior of the microemulsion systems sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)/alcohol/oil/water at various oil/water ratios. Related physicochemical properties of the microemulsion systems were calculated. As the oil/water mass ratio increases, the solubility ( ε B ) of the alcohol increases, while both the mass fraction of alcohol in the interfacial layer ( A S ) and the solubilization ability ( SP ∗ ) decrease. The effect of oils on the properties of the microemulsion systems was investigated.