Mixing of oppositely charged surfactants and polyelectrolytes in aqueous solutions can lead to associative phase separation, where the concentrated phase assumes the form of a viscous liquid, gel, or precipitate. When drops of aqueous polyelectrolyte solution are mixed with an oppositely charged surfactant solution this phenomenon can lead to the formation of gel-like particles. The size of these particles reflects and is controlled by the initial size of the polyelectrolyte solution drops used in the preparation. In our laboratory the particle diameter varies between approximately 200 and 4000 mm, and their morphologies can range from a solution droplet encapsulated in a thin gel shell to a solid gel bead, depending on the solution composition and method of preparation. This project aims to address the following:

Ø      Phase behavior of surfactant and polyelectrolyte mixtures, and its linkage to gel particle formation

Ø      Kinetics and transport phenomena in the surfactant/polyelectrolyte gel particle formation process

Ø      Applications of surfactant and polyelectrolyte gels in controlled encapsulation and release