A study on the hydrolysis of bis(nitrophenyl)phosphate catalyzed by N‐methyldiethanolamine‐Ce(III) complex

The hydrolysis of bis(p‐nitrophenyl)phosphate (BNPP) catalyzed by N‐methyldiethanolamine‐Ce(III) complex in the presence and absence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and Brij35 surfactants at pH 7.20 and 303 K has been studied. The experimental results indicate that N‐methyldiethanolamine‐Ce(III) complex remarkably accelerates the hydrolysis of BNPP. The observed first‐order rate constant of the hydrolysis of BNPP catalyzed by N‐methyldiethanolamine‐Ce(III) complex at pH 7.20 and 303 K is 1.22 × 10^?2 s^?1, which is 1.09 × 10⁹ times of that of spontaneous hydrolysis of BNPP at pH 7. It is close to the activity of natural enzyme. A general quantitative treatment of the catalytic reaction involved a ternary complex as M_mL_lS has also been proposed in this paper. Applying this method to the catalytic hydrolysis of BNPP, we have obtained its thermodynamic and kinetic parameters. CTAB and Brij35 surfactant micelles obviously influence the rate constants of the catalytic hydrolysis of BNPP. Brij35 micelles promote the catalytic hydrolysis of BNPP, while CTAB micelles inhibit it. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 36: 687–692, 2004     

Micellar effects of a triazole-based cationic gemini surfactant on the rate of a nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction

The reaction between 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) and hydroxide ion was studied spectrophotometrically at 25 °C in micelles of a triazole-based cationic gemini surfactant 18-triazole-18 or micelles of the conventional cationic surfactant CTAB. Both CTAB and 18-triazole-18 accelerated this nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction. The binding constant of the substrate to the micelle, K _S, for 18-triazole-18 (K _S=335 M⁻¹) was found to be much larger than that for CTAB (85 M⁻¹) by fitting the kinetic results with pseudophase ion-exchange (PIE) model, which suggests that DNCB binds with gemini micelles more easily than it does with CTAB micelles. It was also found that 18-triazole-18 catalytic system was in accordance with PIE model at surfactant concentrations below ca. 0.5 mM, above which the increase of viscosity and the change of micelle size with increased surfactant concentration may remarkably influence the reaction. This was quite different from the reaction catalyzed by micelles of the conventional surfactant CTAB.     

Kinetics of interaction of Histidine and Histidine Methyl Ester with Ninhydrin in micellar media

Kinetics of the interaction of histidine and histidine methyl ester with ninhydrin under varying concentrations of reactants, anionic (sodium dodecyl sulphate, SDS), cationic (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, CTAB) and non‐ionic (Triton X‐100, TX‐100) micelles have been carried out. Rate of the reaction was found to be independent of the initial concentration of histidine (and histidine methyl ester) but was dependent on [Ninhydrin]. The SDS micelles had no effect on the rate of the reaction. In the presence of the CTAB micelles a small enhancement in the rate was observed. The rate − [CTAB] profile showed that the increase in [CTAB] increased the rate up to a maximum value and a further increase had a decreasing effect on the rate. The rate was enhanced by TX‐100 also but, unlike CTAB micelles, TX‐100 possessed a curve without peak for the rate − [TX‐100] profile. The following rate equation was obeyed by the reaction in CTAB and TX‐100 micelles: Values of k_w, k_m, and K_S were evaluated and are reported herein. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 31: 103–111, 1999     

Conformational studies of poly(N5-Ω-hydroxyalkyl-L-glutamine)s in reversed micelles

The molecular conformations of poly(N⁵-dihydroxyethylaminopropyl-L-glutamine) and poly(N⁵-dihydroxyethyl-L-glutamine) were investigated in reversed micelles of AOT as well as in aqueous solutions. Both poly(-amino acid)s assume disordered structures in pure water. The conformation of poly(N⁵-dihydroxyethylaminopropyl-L-glutamine) transits into-helix in the reversed micelles as the molar ratio of water to AOT (w₀=[H₂O]/[AOT]) becomes smaller. A similar conformational transition was also observed in aqueous solutions when a certain amount of AOT was added. Under these conditions, however, poly(N⁵-dihydroxyethyl-L-glutamine) did not undergo a conformational transition into-helix.     

Solubilization of butanol/pentanol/hexanol in dodecylpyridinium chloride

The specific conductivities of dodecylpyridinium chloride have been determinated in water-butanol/pentanol/hexanol solutions in the temperature range of 10 to 35°C, and butanol, pentanol and hexanol concentrations up to 0.05 mol kg^–1. From these data the temperature dependence of the critical micelle concentration, (cmc), was determined. The molar fraction of alcohol in the micelle was estimated using the theory suggested by Motomura et al. for surfactant binary mixtures. The standard Gibbs free energy of solubilization of alcohols in the micelles was worked out using the phase separation model.     

Enhanced solubilization of bovine serum albumin in reverse micelles by compressed CO2

The effect of compressed CO2 on the solubilization of bovine serum albumin (BSA) in water/sodium bis-(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT)/isooctane reverse micelles was studied by observing phase behavior and recording UV-visible spectra under different conditions. The pH values within the water cores of reverse micelles at different CO2 pressures were also determined. The solubilization capacity of the reverse micelles for the protein increased considerably as CO2 pressure increased within the low-pressure range, but decreased at higher CO2 pressures, so that the micelles eventually lost their ability to solubilize the protein. The effect of CO2 on the stability of the reverse micelles played an important role in the relationship between pressure and protein solubility. A "multicomplex" model was proposed to explain these effects. The different solublization capacities within different pressure ranges demonstrates the unique advantage of using compressed CO2 in the extraction of proteins with reverse micelles.     

Effect of the Constrained Environment on the Interactions between the Surfactant and Different Polar Solvents Encapsulated within AOT Reverse Micelles

Herein, we report a study of the interactions between different nonaqueous polar solvents, namely, ethylene glycol (EG), propylene glycol (PG), glycerol (GY), dimethylformamide (DMF), and dimethylacetamide (DMA), and the polar heads of sodium 1,4‐bis‐2‐ethylhexylsulfosuccinate (AOT) in nonaqueous AOT/n‐heptane reverse micelles. The goal of our study is to gain insights into the unique reverse‐micelle microenvironment created upon encapsulation of these polar solvents. For the first time, the study is focused on determining which regions of the AOT molecular structure are involved in the interactions with the polar solvents. We use FTIR spectroscopy—a noninvasive technique—to follow the changes in the AOT C?O band and the symmetric and asymmetric SO₃^? vibration modes upon increasing the content of polar solvents in the micelles. The results show that GY interacts through H bonds with the SO₃^? group, thereby removing the Na⁺ counterions from the interface remaining in the polar core of the micelles. PG and EG interact through H bonds, mainly with the C?O group of AOT, penetrating into the oil side of the interface. Thus, they interact weakly with the Na⁺ counterion, which seems to be close to the AOT sulfonate group. Finally, DMF and DMA, encapsulated inside the reverse micelles, interact neither with the C?O nor with the SO₃^? groups, but their weakly bulk‐associated structure is broken because of the interactions with Na⁺. We suggest that DMF and DMA can complex the Na⁺ ions through their carbonyl and nitrogen groups. Hence, our results do not only give insights into how the constrained environment affects the bulk properties of polar solvents encapsulated within reverse micelles but—more importantly—they also help us to answer the tricky question about which regions of the AOT moiety are involved in the interactions with the polar solvents. We believe that our results show a clear picture of the interactions present at the nonaqueous reverse‐micelle interface; this is important because these media are interesting nanoreactors for heterogeneous chemistry, templates for nanoparticles, and models for membranes.     

Role of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (cationic surfactant) on the tryptophan–MnO4 reaction

Upon addition of permanganate to a solution of tryptophan (Trp), yellow-brown color species appears within the time of mixing of tryptophan in absence and presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), which was stable for some days. Spectroscopic and kinetic evidences suggest the formation of water-soluble colloidal MnO₂ as the most stable reduction product of MnO₄⁻. Carbon dioxide and ammonia are not formed as the oxidation products. Carbon–carbon double bond of indole moiety of Trp is responsible for the fast reduction of permanganate. Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide catalyses the permanganate oxidation of Trp with a rate enhancement of ca. 200-fold. Sub- and postmicellar catalytic effect of CTAB ascribed to the association/incorporation/solubilization of both reactants (MnO₄⁻ and Trp) with the CTAB aggregates and into the Stern layer of cationic micelles. Quantitative kinetic analysis of the rate constant–[CTAB] data has been performed on the basis of modified pseudo-phase model of the micelles. A comparison was made of the oxidation rates of different amino acids by permanganate. The order of the effectiveness was as follows: tryptophan  tyrosine  phenylalanine.     

Extraction kinetics and ultrafiltration removal of Nickel (II) by long chain alkoxypicolinic acids in cationic and mixed micelles

Micellar particles can solubilize lipophilic extractants similarly to the organic phase in classical biphasic extraction. This analogy is used here to investigate the kinetics of complex formation between Ni²⁺ ions and long chain 5-alkoxypicolinic acids (C_n-PIC, withn=12, 15, 18) solubilized in different types of micelles, namely cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), hexaethyleneglycol-dodecylether (C₁₂EO₆) and CTAB/C₁₂EO₆ mixed micelles. In the case of CTAB micelles, the interaction between the carboxylic function of the extractant and the polar head of surfactant molecules was expected to decrease the rate of complex formation so as to make possible kinetic separation of mixtures of metal ions. The observed rate constants for complex formation at pH 4.5 or 7.0 are indeed much smaller in CTAB micelles than in C₁₂EO₆ or mixed micelles, but they still remain too high for the previous purpose, although the influence of the surfactant concentration demonstrates, as expected, a much stronger partitioning in the case of CTAB in comparison to C₁₂EO₆. On the other hand, it is shown that, once complex formation has occurred the removal of Ni²⁺ ions can be achieved using ultrafiltration. The yield of extraction increases withn, with the mole fraction of C₁₂EO₆, and with the ligand to metal ratio.Institut Nancéien de Chimie Moléculaire (I.N.C.M.)     

Effect of Confinement on the Properties of Sequestered Mixed Polar Solvents: Enzymatic Catalysis in Nonaqueous 1,4‐Bis‐2‐ethylhexylsulfosuccinate Reverse Micelles

The influence of different glycerol, N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) and water mixtures encapsulated in 1,4‐bis‐2‐ethylhexylsulfosuccinate (AOT)/n‐heptane reverse micelles (RMs) on the enzymatic hydrolysis of 2‐naphthyl acetate by α‐chymotrypsin is demonstrated. In the case of the mixtures with DMF and protic solvents it has been previously shown, using absorption, emission and dynamic light‐scattering techniques, that solvents are segregated inside the polar core of the RMs. Protic solvents anchor to the AOT, whereas DMF locates to the polar core of the aggregate. Thus, DMF not only helps to solubilize the hydrophobic substrate, increasing its effective concentrations but surprisingly, it does not affect the enzyme activity. The importance of ensuring the presence of RMs, encapsulation of the polar solvents and the corrections by substrate partitioning in order to obtain reliable conclusions is highlighted. Moreover, the effect of a constrained environment on solvent–solvent interactions in homogenous media and its impact on the use of RMs as nanoreactors is stressed.     

Structure and conductivity of AOT solutions in n-hexadecane-chloroform mixtures

The structure and conductivity of AOT (sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate) solutions (2.5 × 10⁻⁴–2.5 × 10⁻¹ M) in n-hexadecane-chloroform mixture at the chloroform concentration from 50 to 100 vol% were studied. The diffusion ordered spectroscopy NMR study revealed that in the indicated range, the observed hydrodynamic diameter of micelles depends only on the AOT concentration and does not depend on the chloroform content. Molar fractions of free AOT molecules and those aggregated into micelles were calculated using the Lindman's law: at concentrations above 2.5 × 10⁻¹ М, the solutions contain mostly the micelles, whereas at concentrations below 2.5 × 10⁻⁴ M, the solutions contain AOT molecules. The transition region contains both the AOT molecules and the micelles. Conductivity measurements were used to determine free charge carriers in the bulk of solutions and their contributions to conductivity.     

Conformational studies of basic poly (α-amino acid)s in reversed micelles

The conformation of various basic poly (-amino acid)s was investigated by CD measurements in aqueous solutions containing bis (2-ethylhexyl)sodium sulfosuccinate (AOT) as well as in the AOT reversed micelles. The addition of AOT into an aqueous solution of poly(L-lysine) induces the conformational transition from coil to ordered structure, followed by aggregation. On the other hand, poly(L-lysine) assumes-structure in the reversed micelles at low w_ovalue (w_o=[H₂O]/[AOT]). Similarly to poly(L-lysine), poly(L-ornithine) takes an ordered structure in the aqueous solution containing AOT and-structure in the reversed micelles. In this case, however, these ordered structures are not so stable, compared with that of poly(L-lysine). Poly(L-arginine) undergoes the conformational transition from coil to helix by addition of AOT into the aqueous solution. Further addition of AOT allows transformation into-structure. Copoly(L-lysyl-L-leucine) with 63% leucine residue was shown to take a stable helical conformation even in pure water. In the reversed micelles, however, this ordered structure is significantly changed probably because the hydrophobic interaction among the leucyl residues is lowered in the reversed micelles.     

Kinetic and Mechanistic Studies on [Zn(II)-Gly-Phe]+–Ninhydrin Reaction in Aqueous and Cationic CTAB Surfactant Micelles

The rates of reaction between metal-dipeptide complex ([Zn(II)-Gly-Phe]⁺) and ninhydrin have been determined in aqueous and aqueous–cationic micelles of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) at 70°C and pH 5.0. The rate data indicate that the reaction follows the template reaction mechanism in both the media. The reaction followed a first-order and fractional-order kinetics with respect to [Zn(II)-Gly-Phe]⁺ and [ninhydrin], respectively, in the excess of ninhydrin over [Zn(II)-Gly-Phe]⁺. The rate constant is affected by [CTAB] changes and maximum rate enhancement is approximately three-fold. CTAB micelles decrease the activation enthalpy and make the activation entropy less negative. Quantitative kinetic analysis of rate constant (k _ψ)–[CTAB] data was performed on the basis of pseudophase model of the micelles (proposed by Menger and Portnoy and developed by Bunton). The values of binding constants K _S for [Zn(II)-Gly-Phe]⁺ and K _N for ninhydrin with micelles are calculated with the help of observed kinetic data. The results obtained in micellar medium are treated quantitatively on the basis of pseudophase model.     

Effect of alcohols on the micellar properties in aqueous solution of alkyltrimethylammonium bromides

The effect ofn-butanol,n-propanol, andn-hexanol on the critical micelle concentration (CMC) and degree of ionisation of the micelles of dodecyl-, tetradecyl- and hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromides in aqueous solution has been determined by conductimetric techniques. Increase of the molality of added alcohol over the concentration ranges examined (up to 0.3 mol kg^–1 butanol, 0.07 mol kg^–1 pentanol and 0.025 mol kg^–1 hexanol) caused a progressive decrease of CMC and increase of the degree of ionisation for each surfactant-alcohol system. At a constant molality of added alcohol the degree of ionisation increased with a) an increase of the chain length of the surfactant for each alcohol and b) an increase of the chain length of the alcohol for each surfactant. The distribution of each alcohol between the aqueous and micellar phases and the free energy of solubilization were determined from the change of CMC with molality of added alcohol.     

Effective solubilization of chalcones in micellar phase: Conductivity and voltammetric study

The solubilization of four chalcones, between aqueous and micellar phases of ionic surfactants (SDS and CTAB), was investigated by conductivity and cyclic voltammetry (CV) techniques. From conductivity data, a decrease in the critical micellar concentration (CMC) of the surfactants, in presence of the chalcones was ascribed to the decreased charge density over the surfactants. The results were seconded by thermodynamic parameters including degree of ionization (α), counter ion binding (β), and standard Gibbs free energy of micellization (ΔG _m ^○ ). The added surfactant decreased the peak current of the oxidized chalcone and shifted the peak potential either positively (in presence of SDS) or negatively (in presence of CTAB). The effect is rationalized as chalcone-surfactant interaction and quantitated as binding constant (K _b) assorting values from 8.78 to 552.97 M^?1. The preferred solubilization of the chalcones in the micellar phase has been inferred.     

Influence of Gold Nanoparticles of Varying Size in Improving the Lipase Activity within Cationic Reverse Micelles

Herein, we report the effect of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) in enhancing lipase activity in reverse micelles of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)/water/isooctane/n‐hexanol. The size and concentration of the nanoparticles were varied and their specific roles were assessed in detail. An overall enhancement of activity was observed in the GNP‐doped CTAB reverse micelles. The improvement in activity becomes more prominent with increasing concentration and size of the GNPs (0–52 μM and ca. 3–30 nm, respectively). The observed highest lipase activity (k₂=1070±12 cm³ g^?1 s^?1) in GNP‐doped CTAB reverse micelles ([GNP]: 52 μm, ca. 20 nm) is 2.5‐fold higher than in CTAB reverse micelles without GNPs. Improvement in the lipase activity is only specific to the GNP‐doped reverse micellar media, whereas GNP deactivates and structurally deforms the enzyme in aqueous media. The reason for this activation is probably due to the formation of larger‐sized reverse micelles in which the GNP acts as a polar core and the surfactants aggregate around the nanoparticle (‘GNP pool’) instead of only water. Lipase at the augmented interface of the GNP‐doped reverse micelle showed improved activity because of enhancement in both the substrate and enzyme concentrations and increased flexibility in the lipase conformation. The extent of the activation is greater in the case of the larger‐sized GNPs. A correlation has been established between the activity of lipase and its secondary structure by using circular dichroism and FTIR spectroscopic analysis. The generalized influence of GNP is verified in the reverse micelles of another surfactant, namely, cetyltripropylammonium bromide (CTPAB). TEM, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and UV/Vis spectroscopic analysis were utilized to characterize the GNPs and the organized aggregates. For the first time, CTAB‐based reverse micelles have been found to be an excellent host for lipase simply by doping with appropriately sized GNPs.     

Separation and Sensitive Analysis of Chlorophenols by MEEKC

A new microemulsion electrokinetic chromatographic method has been established for separation and sensitive analysis of the three chlorophenols 2-chlorophenol, 4-chlorophenol, and 2,4-dichlorophenol. The optimum microemulsion system was 15 mM SDS, 112 mM n-butanol, and 10 mM n-octane in 20 mM sodium tetraborate (pH 9.0). Under the optimum conditions, baseline separation was achieved within 8 min. The method was used for analysis of a real water sample previously pretreated by SPE. The linear ranges, precision of migration time and peak area, and limits of detection (LOD) were in the ranges of 0.5–50 μg L^?1, 4.85–9.75%, 0.49–0.706% (n = 6), and 0.6–1 μg L^?1, respectively, for the three chlorophenols.     

Solubilization of organics I: 1H NMR chemical shift perturbations,diffusometry, and NOESY indicate biphenyls internalize in micelles formed by cetyltrimethylammonium bromide

Polychlorinated biphenyls are a class of persistent environmental contaminants, and micellar solubilization can be applied to remediate them. The intermolecular aggregates of biphenyl (BP) analogs and cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) were studied by chemical shift perturbation, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) diffusometry, quantitative proton NMR, and nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) spectroscopy to understand the structural determinants of their solubilization. The micelles of CTAB solubilized BPs readily, but its capacity depended strongly on the nature of the functional group (BPCH₂OH > > BPCHO > BPCOOH ≈ BPCl ≈ BP). Upon internalization, the BPs diffused much slower, introduced significant low-frequency ¹H chemical shift changes for CTAB, and displayed strong intermolecular NOEs. The semiquantitative analysis of NOEs revealed further that the BPs are located in the palisade layer closer to the N⁺(CH₃)₃ head group, away from the hydrophobic core. ¹H NMR offers a simple high-throughput screening assay for evaluating and quantitating the solubilization of organics in micelles. The intermolecular NOEs and site-specific perturbation of chemical shifts add further insights on the location of solubilizates in micelles, which may be important for designing surfactants specific for environmental pollutants.     

Screening of variables in β-xylosidase recovery using cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide reversed micelles

β-Xylosidase recovery by micelles using cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) cationic surfactant was verified under different experimental conditions. A 2⁵⁻¹ fractional factorial design with center points was employed to verify the influence of the following factors on enzyme extraction: pH (x ₁), CTAB concentration (x ₂), electrical conductivity (x ₃), hexanol concentration (x ₄), and butanol concentration (x ₅). Statistical analysis of the results shows that of the fivevariables studied only hexanol and electrical conductivity did not have significant effects on the recovery of β-xylosidase. The other factors had significant effects in increasing order: (x ₁)>(x ₂)>(x ₅). The model predicts a recovery value of about 45%, which is similar to that obtained experimentally (43.5%).