Micellization of Cetyl Triphenyl Phosphonium Bromide Surfactant in Binary Aqueous Solvents

The effect of the different binary aqueous organic solvents viz. 1,4-dioxane, acetonitrile, dimethylsulfoxide, ethylene glycol, and methanol, on the micelle formation and thermodynamics of a cationic surfactant cetyl triphenyl phosphonium bromide has been studied conductometrically at 298-318 K. From the conductivity data critical micelle concentration, degree of counter ion dissociation (alpha) and thermodynamic parameters of micellization have been determined. It is observed that micellization tendency of the surfactant decreases in the presence of binary aqueous solvents. The entropies of micellization are all positive, and they compensate the enthalpies of the process.