Spectroscopic analysis of naphtholazobenzimidazole in organised solution

Micelle–water partition coefficient (K_x ) of naphtholazobenzimidazole dye (NAB) in aqueous solutions of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) has been determined spectrophotometerically. Changes in absorption patterns of dye caused by surfactants and solvents were quantified in terms of dye–surfactant ratio (n _D/n _S) and solvent water partition coefficients (P), respectively. Multiple residence sites have been suggested for dye molecules within micelles, based on shifts in azo-hydrazone tautomeric equilibrium. Micelle–water partition coefficients were used to evaluate the influence of dye on critical micelle concentration of CTAB and SDS. At same micelle concentration, M, the relative solubility of NAB was greater in cationic surfactant CTAB than in anionic surfactant SDS.