Abstract
•Phase separation of TX-100 and sodium alginate mixture has been investigated.•Effect of sodium salts/hydrotropic salt has been investigated on cloud point (CP).•The ΔGc0 values are observed positive and found decreased with increased [salts].•The ΔHc0/ΔSc0 values indicate existence of both hydrophobic and exothermic interactions.•Thermodynamics of transfer/enthalpy-entropy compensation variables are also computed.
Here, the clouding development of the triton X-100 (TX-100; an uncharged amphiphile) and a biopolymer, sodium alginate (NaAlg) mixture in aq. solutions of sodium salts and also hydrotropic salt media has been investigated by means of the cloud point (CP) estimation method. The study discloses that the CP value of the mixture of TX-100 + NaAlg is dependent on the composition of Na-based salts and hydrotropic material. In addition, we have compared the impacts of simple sodium salts and hydrotropic sodium salt on the phenomenon of clouding formation. The ΔGc0 values are observed positive in each case, while the positive values are found to be decreased with enhancing salt concentration. The ΔHc0 and ΔSc0 values indicate the persistence of both hydrophobic and exothermic interactions amid TX-100 and NaAlg in the salts and hydrotrope media. Furthermore, this study computes and describes the thermodynamics of transfer and enthalpy-entropy compensation variables.