Micellar properties of potassium dodecyl itaconate (KDI), an itaconic acid-derived surfactant, have been studied. KDI was found to micellize in alkaline aqueous medium ( left bracket KOH right bracket equals 0. 01 M) at 20 degree C with a critical micelle concentration of (3 plus or minus 0. 3) multiplied by 10** minus **4 M. The micelle aggregation number was estimated at 80 plus or minus 5 from a fluorescence quenching method. Solubilization behavior of KDI micelles toward a highly hydrophobic solute (n-pentane), an amphiphatic solute (n-hexanol), and an aromatic hydrocarbon (pyrene) was examined. The results obtained show that KDI micelles are better solvents than sodium dodecyl sulfate micelles for n-pentane. Selectivity coefficients for Tl** plus /K** plus and Tl** plus /Na** plus counterion exchanges at the surface of dodecyl itaconate micelles were also measured. The results obtained indicate that the degree of selectivity for the Tl** plus /Na** plus counterion exchange is lower than that exhibited at the surface of sodium dodecyl sulfate micelles.
