A quantitative analysis of the effect of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide micelles on the rate of alkaline hydrolysis of benzylpenicillin

Abstract

The rate of alkaline hydrolysis of benzylpenicillin (BP) is enhanced by micelles of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide. Addition of sodium bromide or increasing the concentration of BP inhibits the micellar rate enhancement. The effects of micelles, salt, and variation of BP concentration have been analysed quantitatively by using a pseudophase model with explicit consideration of ion exchange.