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Title: Structure and growth of bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate micelles in aqueous solutions

Journal Article · · J. Phys. Chem.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/j100296a039· OSTI ID:6295162

The structure and growth of micelles formed by anionic surfactant sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT) in aqueous solutions have been studied by small angle neutron scattering (SANS). They used the contrast variation technique to determine the aggregation number, the effective charge, and two molecular parameters of the micelles in solutions of 0.8 g/dL surfactant concentration. They then used these two molecular parameters to analyze micellar solutions at other concentrations. Two micellar parameters, the mean aggregation number n and the effective charge z0, have been extracted from experimental data for solutions with surfactant concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 1.0 g/dL. The minimum micellar aggregation number is predicted to be 15 at the critical micellar concentration (cmc) and the structure is a compact spherical aggregate having well-defined hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions. The micelles grow moderately as the surfactant concentration increases, transforming from a spherical to an oblate spheroidal shape in a manner describable by the ladder model.

Research Organization:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge
OSTI ID:
6295162
Journal Information:
J. Phys. Chem.; (United States), Vol. 91:12
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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