Combination of micellar and chemical catalysis as a means of enhancing the sensitivity of catalytic kinetic determinations

The combined effects of micellar and chemical catalysis were studied to improve the features of catalytic kinetic determinations. The bromate oxidative coupling reaction of p-phenetidine with catechol, catalysed by vanadium(V), was studied in the presence and absence of micelles of cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC). This cationic surfactant increased the reaction rate, which in turn resulted in an increase in the sensitivity by an order of magnitude in the kinetic determination of vanadium(V). A detailed study of the kinetics of both reactions is reported. The mechanism by which CPC and vanadium(V) exert their action was elucidated and the role of micellar media in catalytic kinetic methods is discussed.