Microemulsions as reaction media for a hydrolysis reaction

The kinetics of the acidic hydrolysis of N-hydroxyphthalimide (phthalomohydroxamic acid) have been studied in microemulsions of three components (Aerosol OT (AOT)/isooctane/water) at 328 K. The effect of significant parameters such as water/AOT mole ratio (omega) and AOT concentration were analyzed. The reaction rate is higher in microemulsions than in conventional aqueous solution. In all cases pseudo first-order kinetics were observed. Activation parameters have been obtained from the temperature dependence of the rate constant in the microemulsion.