Physical properties of cetylpyridinium chloride micelles and their behaviour as reaction media

Abstract

The physical properties of cetylpyridinium chloride micelles (CPyCl) in aqueous solution have been obtained by steady-state fluorescence quenching and conductivity measurements; the influence on the basic hydrolysis of a positively charged substrate (Crystal Violet) and a negatively charged substrate [5,5′-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic) acid], has been studied. The kinetic results are explained on the basis of an electrostatic treatment that considers the ion distribution around the micelles according to the Poisson–Boltzmann (PB) non-linearized equation with specific interactions between the ions in solution and the micellar surface.