Molecular dynamics simulations provide microscopic pictures of the behavior of TBP (tri-n-butyl phosphate)
at the water−“oil” interface, and in water−“oil” mixtures where “oil” is modeled by chloroform. It is shown
that, depending on the TBP concentration and water acidity, TBP behaves as a surfactant, an interface modifier,
or a solute in oil. At low concentrations, TBP is surface active and forms an unsaturated monolayer at the
“planar” interface between the pure water and oil phases, adopting an “amphiphilic orientation”. Increasing
the TBP concentration induces water−oil mixing at the interface which becomes very rough while TBP
orientations at the phase boundary are more random and TBP molecules solubilize in oil. The effect of water
acidity is investigated with three nitric acid models: neutral NO3H, ionic NO3
- H3O+ and TBPH+ NO3
-.
The role of these species on the properties of the water−oil boundaries and on the outcome of water−oil
demixing experiments is presented. The neutral NO3H form is highly surface active. Hydrogen bonding between
TBP and NO3H, TBPH+, or H3O+ disrupts the first TBP layer and leads, at high TBP concentrations, to a
mixed third phase or to a microemulsion. These results are important for our understanding of the microscopic
solution state of liquid−liquid extraction systems.