Pyrene solubilization capacity in octaethylene glycol monododecyl ether (C12E8) micelles

We used fluorescence quenching, vibronic band ratios and excimer fluorescence techniques to quantify the statistics of pyrene solubilization in nonionic octaethylene glycol monododecyl ether (C₁₂E₈) micelles. Using a two-phase model (aqueous and micellar pseudophases) to interpret fluorescence results, we found that all three of these experimental methods provide consistent information about pyrene partitioning between aqueous and micellar pseudophases. From dynamic quenching experiments we determined the pyrene partition coefficient and the average number of pyrene molecules solubilized per micelle over a range of surfactant concentrations. The pyrene partition coefficient increases with increasing surfactant concentration. We confirmed the partitioning results by excimer fluorescence measurements. Quenching results indicate that pyrene is accessible to Cu²⁺ quenchers even in the limit of high surfactant concentration where solubilized pyrene is in the infinite dilution limit in the micellar pseudophase. This suggests that solubilized pyrene resides in the micellar palisade layer. We determined the maximum number of pyrene solubilizates allowed per micelle (micellar solubilization capacity) by applying a three-phase model to fluorescence experiments conducted in the presence of solid phase pyrene. The estimated maximum capacity is 6 pyrene molecules per micelle. The three phase partitioning model successfully predicted the excimer fluorescence in the presence of solid pyrene.