Microemulsions — phase equilibria characterization, structures, applications and chemical reactions

The progress in understanding microemulsion structure on a molecular level as well as from extensive experimental studies of phase diagrams is reviewed. In this respect the studies involve both ionic and nonionic surfactants. Structures discussed involve the hard sphere model, the bicontinuous model, sponge phases and the flexible surface model. The progress in spectroscopic techniques (like NMR and TDS) together with scattering techniques, when applied to microemulsion systems, is also briefly discussed. cal applications of microemulsions involve general applications as cleaning systems, fuels and in the field of crude oil exploitation. The last topic summarizes the use of the systems in EOR, acidizing and transport. The major emphasis of the review is in the utilization of microemulsions as systems in chemical reactions. These reactions involve preparation of inorganic particles, polymerization of organic monomers together with preparation of both organic and inorganic complexes and clusters. Enzyme catalyzed reactions involving the enzymes lipase, trypsin, α-chymotrypsin and alcohol dehydrogenase in different microemulsions are also summarized.