Desorption of electrolytes at liquid–vapour and liquid–liquid interfaces

The desorption of various simple inorganic salts at the decanol–water interface has been studied, and analysed together with previously obtained results for the air–electrolyte and dodecane–electrolyte interfaces. The desorption of the salts is much more dependent on the nature of the anion, at all three interface types, than it is on the cation and the results are discussed in terms of the possible interaction between anions and hydration layers at the interfaces. The dependence of free energies of adsorption of alkanols, both from alkane and from electrolyte, on the alkane–electrolyte interface has also been investigated and it is concluded that the chemical potential of the alkanol at the surface is not much affected by the salts, but the influence is greater the less the desorption of the salt.