Kinetics, mechanism and cloud point measurements in the oxidative degradation of non-ionic Triton X-100 surfactant in acidic permanganate solutions

The polyoxyethylene chain of non-ionic surfactant Triton X-100 [4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl) phenyl polyethylene glycol,TX-100] was degraded by permanganate in the presence of HClO₄. The oxidative degradation rate and cloud point have been obtained as a function of [surfactant], [permanganate], [HClO₄], and temperature. Dependence of the reaction rate on adding inorganic salts (Na₄P₂O₇, NaF and MnCl₂) was also examined. The oxidation rate increased with increase in [TX-100] and [H⁺]. The higher order kinetics with respect to [TX-100] at lower [H⁺] shifted to lower order at higher [H⁺]. The cloud point of TX-100 (67°C) shifted to lower temperature (23±0.5°C) after oxidative degradation of the polyoxyethylene chain. Evidence of complex formation between TX-100 and MnO ₄ ⁻ was obtained spectrophotometrically. Presence of the primary alcoholic (–OH) group in the TX-100 skeleton is responsible for the degradation of oxyethylene chain. Both monomeric and aggregated TX-100 molecules are oxidized by permanganate. A catalytic oxidation mechanism is proposed on the basis of the experimental findings.