Copper(II) soaps derived from Neem (CN) and Pongamia (CP) non-edible oils have been thermally analyzed using TGA technique to determine their energy of activation. IR and NMR spectroscopic studies have been also done earlier. The copper soaps derived from these oils show a single step thermal degradation corresponding to saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acid components of the non-edible oils. Various equations like Coats-Redfern, Horowitz-Metzger, Broido equations were applied to evaluate the energy of activation. The values of activation energy are observed to be in the following order for all these soaps: CN > CP. CP is observed to be more stable than CN due to its higher activation energy.
The photocatalytic degradation of copper(II) soaps derived from palmitic acid was carried out in the presence of semiconductor zinc oxide (ZnO) and was observed spectrophotometrically. The operational parameters such as concentration of soap, catalyst loading, light intensity, effect of solvent were investigated during the process. The studies suggest that the rate of the photocatalytic degradation increases with the increase in the concentration of soap to 800 ppm and then continuously decreases. Rate of degradation increases with the amount of semiconductor and with further increase in the amount of semiconductor, the rate becomes constant. The degradation is maximum at a light intensity of 38 mW cm−2. An increase in the solvent polarity inhibits the rate of degradation. A tentative mechanism has also been proposed for the photocatalytic degradation of copper(II) palmitate soap.
Magnesium soaps of caproic and caprylic acids were prepared and a cell was set up for the measurement of EMF (electromotive force) of the cell containing referred soap solutions in methanol water solvent system with the aid of ion-selective electrode. The critical micelle concentration of soap solutions was determined by plotting the electromotive force of the cell against soap concentration. The critical micelle concentration of these soap solutions varies with increase in chain length of the fatty acids in the soap. The energetic studies of the system have been carried out from the electromotive force values of the cell containing soap solution to ascertain the chain length compatibility and agglomeration profile. The values of free energy change are negative indicating the spontaneity of cell reaction and decreases with increasing soap concentration while increases with the increase methanol concentration in solvent mixture.
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