SOLUBILIZATION ISOTHERMS OF AROMATIC SOLUTES IN SURFACTANT AGGREGATES

Several factors affecting solubilization of aromatic solutes in surfactant micelles have been investigated. Solubilization isotherms of benzene, toluene, and chlorobenzene in various aqueous micellar solutions were determined using head space gas chromatography. Cationic surfactants such as cetylpyridinium chloride or cetyltrimethylammonium bromide present high solubilization capacities. Comparable anionic surfactants exhibit lower solubilization and a greater tendency to precipitate. It was observed that nonionic surfactants show high solubilization on a molar basis. Solubilization in mixed cationic-anionic micelles was also investigated. It also appears that the molecular size of the solute determines the extent of the solubilization. Finally, the shape of the different isotherms indicates that knowing the amount solubilized at saturation of the micellar solution is not sufficient to estimate solubilization at solute concentrations lower than the solute aqueous solubility. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.