MICELLAR CATALYZED REDOX REACTIONS OF BILIRUBIN IN CTAB MEDIUM - A PULSE-RADIOLYSIS STUDY

The reaction of CO2.- with bilirubin which is not detectable in homogeneous aqueous medium proceeds almost with diffusion controlled rate in CTAB micellar system. This could be explained on the basis of catalysis caused by the possible electrostatic surface potential of cationic CTAB Micelles. The rate constant for the oxidation of bilirubin by haloperoxyl radicals have been shown to increase with increasing solvent polarity. Although the polarity effect was small, it followed a trend in the expected direction. Micellar effect was not observed in the oxidation reactions when alcohol was present in high concentration. But a small increase in the rate constant was observed when alcohol concentration was lower. (C) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.