Thermodynamic Characterization of Aqueous Arundo Donax Leave Extract: Implication of Natural Surface Activity

Brave L. Tambari; Grace A. Cookey; Ngozi J. Maduelosi; John N. Obowu

doi:10.56201/ijccp.vol.12.no5.2026.pg92.103

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Thermodynamic Characterization of Aqueous Arundo Donax Leave Extract: Implication of Natural Surface Activity

Brave L. Tambari,, Grace A. Cookey, Ngozi J. Maduelosi, John N. Obowu

Abstract

The need for sustainable and environmentally benign surfactants has triggered renewed interest in plant-derived surface-active compounds. Arundo donax leave is a promising perennial rhizomatous grass that accumulates high amounts of amphiphilic phytochemicals, such as saponins, flavonoids, phenolics, and terpenoids. However, there is a lack of thermodynamic understanding of the surface activity of Arundo donax leave aqueous extract. Hence, this study aimed to thermodynamically characterize Arundo donax aqueous leave extract prepared by ethanol extraction method in order to explore its potential use as a natural surfactant. The concentration and temperature dependence of surface and interfacial tension were used to calculate surface excess concentration (Γmax), the minimum area per molecule , Gibbs energy of adsorption (ΔG°ads), Gibbs energy of micellization (ΔG°mic), enthalpy change (∆Hmic), and entropy change (T∆Smic ). The correlation between thermodynamic characteristics and phytochemical properties of the extract were explored. It is expected that the aqueous extract will demonstrate considerable adsorption capacities on the air/water interface and will possess high surface-active properties manifested by negative values of Gibbs energy of adsorption and micellization. The study will contribute to the overall understanding of the physicochemical properties of the giant reed leaf extract and its potential applications as an eco-friendly surfactant in enhanced oil recovery, waste-water treatment, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food, and other industries. The study will allow assessing the feasibility of using Arundo donax leave aqueous extract as an effective and sustainable alternative to petroleum-based surfactants.

Keywords

Thermodynamic characterizationnatural surfactantsurface activityGibbs free energycritical micelle concentrationadsorptionmicellizationphytochemicalsinterfacial tension

References

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Thermodynamic Characterization of Aqueous Arundo Donax Leave Extract: Implication of Natural Surface Activity

Abstract

Keywords

References

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