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Title: Investigation of the micropolarity of reverse micelles using quinolinium betaine compounds as probes

Journal Article · · Journal of Colloid and Interface Science; (United States)
; ;  [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Kyoto Institute of Technology (Japan). Dept. of Chemistry and Materials Technology
  2. Osaka Municipal Technical Research Institute (Japan)
  3. Univ. of Texas, Arlington, TX (United States). Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry

There is considerable interest in the utilization of reverse micelle and microemulsion systems in a variety of applications such as reactivity control, tertiary oil recovery, solar energy conversion, enzyme mediated synthesis, etc. Fundamental to understanding improved applications of such systems are questions concerning solubilization; thus substantial efforts have been focused on the investigation of the solubilizing state of the assemblies. N-octyl-quinolinium betaine is introduced as an absorption probe for the micropolarity of the interior of reverse micelles. its solubilization by reverse micelles and water/oil microemulsions of Aerosol-OT in isooctane is compared with that of N-methyl-quinolinium betaine at various water contents of the solution. Analysis of the excitation energies in the visible range of the spectrum indicates that the methyl derivative probes the polarity of the aqueous pool of the micelle, whereas the octyl derivative behaves as a cosurfactant probe that reports on the polarity of the water/oil interfacial region.

OSTI ID:
7283837
Journal Information:
Journal of Colloid and Interface Science; (United States), Vol. 163:2; ISSN 0021-9797
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English