Light scattering study of the effect of n-butanol on the micellar properties of undecylammonium chloride in aqueous electrolyte solutions

Light scattering measurements have been performed on aqueous solutions of undecylammonium chloride in the presence of 0 to 0.2 mol dm(-3) NaCl and 0 to 0.5 mol dm(-3) n-butanol at 25 degrees C. The critical micelle concentration (CMC), aggregation number, and degree of dissociation of the micelles have been determined. The observed decrease of the CMC with the increase of the n-butanol concentration was explained by the effect of the n-butanol on water structure and by the selective solvation of the micelles with n-butanol, which counteract the decrease of the polar character of the solvent caused by n-butanol addition. An observed increase in the degree of dissociation of the micelles and a decrease in the aggregation number following alcohol addition have been explained by considering the effect of this additive on the electrostatic and other interactions involved in free energy of micellization. Our results support the concept of opposing effects between n-butanol and NaCl on the cooperativity in the micellization process of this surfactant, with the n-butanol disfavoring micellar growth. (C) 2000 Academic Press.