Competitive Solubilization of Phenol by Cationic Surfactant Micelles in the Range of Low Additive and Surfactant Concentrations

• Published in: Langmuir Vol. 25; no. 9; pp. 4868 - 4874
• Main Authors: Chaghi, Radhouane, de Ménorval, Louis-Charles, Charnay, Clarence, Derrien, Gaëlle, Zajac, Jerzy
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 05.05.2009
• Subjects: Chemical Sciences; Chemistry; Colloidal state and disperse state; Colloids: Surfactants and Self-Assembly, Dispersions, Emulsions, Foams; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Material chemistry; Micelles. Thin films; Surface physical chemistry; Additive; Phenol; Cationic surfactant; Micelle; Phenols; Alcohol; Benzenic compound; Surfactant; Solubilization; Ionic surfactant
• ISSN: 0743-7463; 1520-5827
• DOI: 10.1021/la803451q

Competitive interactions of phenol (PhOH) with micellar aggregates of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HTAB) against 1-butanol (BuOH) in aqueous solutions at surfactant concentrations close to the critical micelle concentration (CMC), BuOH concentration of 0.5 mmol kg−1, and phenol contents of 1, 5, or 10 mmol kg−1 have been investigated at 303 K by means of 1H NMR spectroscopy, titration calorimetry, and solution conductimetry. The solubilization loci for phenol were deduced from the composition-dependence of the 1H chemical shifts assigned to various protons in the surfactant and additive units. Since in pure HTAB solutions phenol is already in competition with Br−, addition of 1 mmol kg−1 NaBr to the system weakens the phenol competitiveness. The presence of butanol in the HTAB micelles causes phenol to penetrate deeper toward the hydrophobic micelle core. For higher phenol contents, the butanol molecules are constrained to remain in the bulk solution and are progressively replaced within the HTAB micelles by the aromatic units. The competitive character of phenol solubilization against butanol is well supported by changes in the thermodynamic parameters of HTAB micellization in the presence of both of the additives.