Solutions of soaps in organic solvents

Abstract

The solubilities of silver and chromium soaps in nonaqueous solvents have been determined by a radiotracer technique. The metal soaps are sparingly soluble in nonaqueous solvents but more soluble in alcohols. The solubility data at different temperatures in benzene, toluene, and m-xylene has been used to determine the critical micelle concentration (c.m.c) of these soaps. Small amounts of methanol enhance the solubility of the metal soaps in benzene and the viscosity of soap solutions in methanol–benzene (15% methanol) showed the existence of micelles at high soap concentrations. The solubility of silver laurate in aqueous solutions of dioctyl sodium sulphosuccinate and Nonidet-P40 has been determined and the data was used to calculate the c.m.c. of aqueous surfactants.