Mixed micelle formation and solubilization behavior toward polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons of binary and ternary cationic-nonionic surfactant mixtures

Water solubility enhancements of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), viz., naphthalene, anthracene and pyrene, by micellar solutions at 25 degrees C using two series of surfactants, each involving two cationic and one nonionic surfactant in their single as well as equimolar binary and ternary mixed states, were measured and compared. The first series was composed of three surfactants, benzylhexadecyldimethylammonium chloride (C16BzCl), hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (C16Br), and polyoxyethylene(20)mono-n-hexadecyl ether (Brij-58) with a 16-carbon (C16) hydrophobic chain; the second series consisted of dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (C12Br), dodecylethyldimethylammonium bromide (C12EBr), and polyoxyethylene(4)mono-n-dodecyl ether (Brij-30) with a 12-carbon (C12) chain. Solubilization capacity has been quantified in terms of the molar solubilization ratio, the micelle-water partition coefficient, the first stepwise association constant between solubilizate monomer and vacant micelle, and the average number of solubilizate molecules per micelle, determined employing spectrophoto-, tensio-, and flourimetric techniques. Cationic surfactants exhibited lesser solubilization capacity than nonionics in each series of surfactants with higher efficiency in the C16 series compared to the C12 series. Increase in hydrophobicity of head groups of cationics by incorporation of ethyl or benzyl groups enhanced their solubilization capacity. The mixing effect of surfactants on mixed micelle formation and solubilization efficiency has been discussed in light of the regular solution approximation (RSA). Cationic-nonionic binary combinations showed better solubilization capacity than pure cationics, nonionics, or cationic-cationic mixtures, which, in general, showed increase with increased hydrophobicity of PAHs. Equimolar cationic-cationic-nonionic ternary surfactant systems showed lower solubilization efficiency than their binary cationic-nonionic counterparts but higher than cationic-cationic ones. In addition, use of RSA has been extended, with fair success, to predict partition coefficients of ternary surfactant systems using data of binary surfactants systems. Mixed surfactants may improve the performance of surfactant-enhanced remediation of soils and sediments by decreasing the applied surfactant level and thus remediation cost.     

表面活性剂溶胀胶束：性能及应用

溶胀胶束是表面活性剂胶束增溶其它物质后使胶束膨胀的一种胶束状态,因其能显著提高难溶性物质的溶解度而备受关注。针对近年来对溶胀胶束的研究进展,综述了溶胀胶束的最大增溶量、增溶过程以及增溶后形貌尺寸的变化等问题,总结了影响胶束增溶作用的因素,厘清了溶胀胶束与微乳液的异同,介绍了溶胀胶束的应用,展望了其应用前景与发展方向。     

SOLUBILIZATION IN MIXED REVERSE MICELLAR SYSTEMS OF AOT/NONIONIC SURFACTANTS/n-HEPTANE

Solubilization of water and aqueous NaCl solutions in mixed reverse micellar systems of anionic surfactant AOT and nonionic surfactants in n-heptane was studied. It was found that the maximum solubilization capacity of water was higher in the presence of certain concentrations of NaCl electrolyte, and these concentrations increased with the increase of nonionic surfactant content and their EO chain length. Soluibilization capacity was enhanced by mixing AOT with nonionic surfactants. The observed phenomena were interpreted in terms of the stability of the interfacial film of reverse micellar microdroplet and the packing parameter of the surfactant that formed mixed reverse micelles.     

Relevance of gaseous flows in electrochemically assisted soil thermal remediation

Treatment of polluted soil is one of the priorities in the search of a more sustainable planet. Electrochemically assisted soil remediation has been considered a good option for removing organic contaminants contained in soil, including the removal of volatile organic compounds, associated with gaseous streams produced during the treatment. Also, recently, electrochemical gas treatment technologies have been appointed as promising for the treatment of volatile organic compounds. In this work, we review the current opinion about the most recent studies in both areas. The first section focuses on the production of gaseous compounds during soil remediation by conventional and electrochemical systems. The second section describes the recent progress in the integration of adsorption and absorption with electrochemical processes. Finally, we discuss the holistic application of assisted electrochemical technologies in soil remediation, considering also emerging processes recently published in the literature.     

Micellar solubilization thermodynamics of acetophenone in surfactant mixtures: Case of benzyldimethyltetradecylammonium chloride and trimethyltetradecylammonium chloride

The thermodynamics of micellar solubilization of acetophenone in mixtures of two cationic surfactants [benzyldimethyltetradecylammonium chloride +trimethyltetradecylammonium chloride] has been derived from calorimetric measurements at controlled solute activity. The partition coefficient between micelles and water as well as the standard enthalpy and entropy of transfer between micelles and water were calculated. The results were compared to the case of benzylalcohol in the same cationic mixtures. For acetophenone, the variation of all thermodynamic transfer functions with micellar composition may be described by the regular solution formalism. The same conclusion has been achieved for most polar solutes in various surfactant mixtures: favorable interaction between unlike surfactants induces an unfavorable micellar solubilization. Exceptions should be found with the cases where solute solubilization induces profound micellar changes. It seems to be the case with some alcohols in the cationic surfactant mixtures studied.     

Solubilization of two organic dyes by cationic ester-containing gemini surfactants

Solubilization of two different types of organic dyes, Quinizarin with an anthraquinone structure and Sudan I with an azo structure, has been studied in aqueous solutions of a series of cationic gemini surfactants and of a conventional monomeric cationic surfactant, dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB). Surfactant concentrations both above and below the critical micelle concentration were used. The concentration of solubilized dye at equilibrium was determined from the absorbance of the solution at λ(max) with the aid of a calibration curve. The solubilization power of the gemini surfactants was higher than that of DTAB and increased with increasing alkyl chain length. An increase in length of the spacer unit resulted in increased solubilization power while a hydroxyl group in the spacer did not have much effect. Ester bonds in the alkyl chains reduced the solubilization power with respect to both dyes. A comparison between the absorbance spectra of the dyes in micellar solution with spectra in a range of solvents of different polarity indicated that the dye is situated in a relatively polar environment. One may therefore assume that the dye is located just below the head group region of the micelle. Attractive π-cation interactions may play a role for orienting the dye to the outer region of the micelle.     

Polychlorinated Biphenyls-contaminated Soil Washing with Mixed Surfactants Enhanced by Electrokinetics

On the basis of comparing the adsorption loss of different surfactants[single nonionic surfactant sorbitanmonooleatepolyoxyethylene ether(Tween 80), anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate(SDBS), and mixed surfactants Tween 80/SDBS(3:2), Tween 80/SDBS(4:1)] and their performance in the enhancement of polychlorinated biphenyls(PCBs) desorption from soil, the impact of electric field intensity on the desorption of PCBs and the transport of surfactants in washing resulted solution were investigated in this study. With regard to the remediation cost, 1000 mg/L mixed Tween 80/SDBS(3:2) was recognized as an optimum concentration in the remediation of PCBs-contaminated soil, because Tween 80/SDBS(3:2) had the highest washing capacity and relatively low adsorption loss onto soil. Electrokinetics can enhance the washing efficiency of PCBs-contaminated soil by Tween 80/SDBS(3:2) effectively and safely at an electric field intensity of 1.5 V/cm for 10 d, for the desorption of PCBs was 1.57 times more than that without electrokinetics, and the most of organic residue in washing resulted solution was removed in an electrical field to avoid the possible secondary contamination risk.     

Co-solubilization of the Hydrophobic Drugs Carbamazepine and Nifedipine in Aqueous Nonionic Surfactant Media

Co-solubilization of the hydrophobic drugs Carbamezipine (CBZ) and Nifedipine (NFD) by micellar solutions at 25 °C, using two series of polyoxyethylene based nonionic surfactants, was measured and compared. The first series is composed of surfactants with a 12 carbon (C₁₂) hydrophobic chain while the second series had 16 carbon (C₁₆) hydrophobic chains. Experimental results were obtained for solubilization and co-solubilization of CBZ and NFD within the micelles at saturation and quantification was done in terms of the molar solubilization ratio and the micelle–water partition coefficient employing spectrophotometric and tensiometric techniques. The extent of micellar solubilization of CBZ is much greater than NFD. The C₁₂ series of surfactants exhibit higher solubilization capacities for CBZ than the C₁₆ series while the reverse is the case for NFD. Co-solubilization results showed competitive solubilization of the drugs. A synergistic effect on the solubilization of NFD was observed in the presence of CBZ in Brij30 and Brij56 surfactant systems while, in the remaining surfactants, the solubility of NFD was slightly reduced. Since the surfactants used in the present study are either nontoxic or have minimal toxicity, it is expected that they can be employed as drug delivery vehicles for co-administration of the two drugs in vivo. Both from industrial and research points of view, this paper reports a comprehensive study for co-solubilization of differently structured drugs in micellar media.     

Dissolution behavior of homologously generated surfactant molecular complexes (SMC) in aqueous media: A clue to the elucidation of the phenomenon "solubilization"

The solution behavior of homologously obtained crystalline surfactant molecular complexes (SMCs) that are generated between quaternary ammonium bromide and several additive materials has shed light on the recognition of fundamentals of solubilization. It has been revealed that the SMCs derived from long-alkyl-chain surfactants are sufficiently dissolved in water through the path of micellar dispersion above the cmc's of the complex surfactants, whereas the short-chain homologues cannot dissolve in water but dissociate the complexes, resulting in a heterogeneous phase made up of the liberated additives. The fact agrees perfectly with the familiar aspects of solubilization by surfactant; i.e., the longer the alkyl chain of the surfactant becomes, the more effective it is for solubilization. Based on these results, it has been deduced that the possibility for any pair of surfactant and solubilizate (additive) to realize solubilization simply depends on the relative importance of equilibrium of dissociation or association of the SMC species in aqueous medium.     

Micropartioning and solubilization enhancement of 1,2-bis(bis(4-chlorophenyl) methyl)diselane in mixed micelles of binary and ternary cationic-nonionic surfactant mixtures

The aqueous solubilization of the organoselenium compound viz., 1,2-bis(bis(4-chlorophenyl)methyl)diselane [(ClC(6)H(4))(2)CHSe](2) has been investigated experimentally in micellar solutions of two cationic (hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide, CTAB, hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride, CTAC) and one nonionic (polyoxyethylene(20)mono-n-hexadecyl ether, Brij 58) surfactants possessing the same hydrocarbon "tail" length and in their single as well as equimolar binary and ternary mixed states. Solubilization capacity determined with spectrophotometry and tensiometry has been quantified in terms of molar solubilization ratio and micelle-water partition coefficient. FTIR, UV-vis, fluorescence and zeta potential measurements have been utilized to ascertain the interaction of organochalcogen compound with surfactants. Equimolar cationic-nonionic surfactant combinations show better solubilization capacity than pure cationics or nonionics, whereas equimolar cationic-cationic-nonionic ternary surfactant systems exhibit intermediate solubilization efficiency between their single and binary counterparts. Locus of solubilization of [(ClC(6)H(4))(2)CHSe](2) in different micellar solutions was probed by UV-visible spectroscopy. The investigation has presented precious information for the preference of mixed surfactants for solubilizing water-insoluble compounds. Indeed the solubilization aptitude of these surfactants is not merely related to molar capacity. The results furnish adequate support to justify comprehensive exploration of the surfactant properties that influence solubilization.     

Coal bioprocessing research at the institute of gas technology

Coal bioprocessing research at the Institute of Gas Technology (IGT) has included solubilization, gasification, desulfurization, denitrogenation, production of specialty chemicals, and the remediation of organic and inorganic wastes associated with coal utilization. Currently, research is focused on desulfurization and remediation. Desulfurization research concerns the development of processes to remove organic sulfur or to convert a portion of pyritic sulfur to sulfuric acid rapidly, thereby serving as a pretreatment to aid the thermochemical conversion of coal to coke and liquid products. The removal of as much as 91% organic sulfur from coal has been achieved, and biodesulfurization of coal has been confirmed by seven analytical techniques performed in six different laboratories. Recent studies have involved the use of molecular genetics to develop strains of bacteria with higher levels of desulfurization activity, and the development of methods for the preparation, storage, and utilization of biodesulfurization catalysts. Remediation studies include the development ofin situ and on-site technologies to treat soil contaminated with coal tar, the leaching of metals from fly ash, and the treatment of waste water resulting from fly ash leaching or from acidic mine drainage (AMD). IGT currently has two projects in EPA’s SITE program concerned with the remediation of coal tar-contaminated soil, and other related technologies are being developed. Efficient laboratory-scale processes for the removal of metals from fly ash and from soil so that the solids pass EPA’s TCLP test, and the subsequent treatment of the leachates or AMD to meet all regulatory requirements have been developed. Data obtained in these projects are presented in particular, and a general discussion of the application of biotechnology to coal is offered.     

单分子链胶束的胶束化行为与相关新概念的提出

采用水溶液均聚合方法,制备了阳离子型表面活性单体（2-丙烯酰胺基）乙基十四烷基二甲基溴化铵（AMC14AB）的均聚物,使用荧光探针法、表面张力测定及电导测定法,重点考察了均聚物P（AMC14AB）在水溶液中的胶束化行为与表面吸附现象．在水溶液中,均聚物P（AMC14AB）呈现单分子链胶束的聚集形态,具有零临界胶束浓度（CMC=0）,从开始加入P（AMC14AB）起,水溶液中随即产生单分子链胶束,不存在Krafft温度．P（AMC14AB）在溶液表面也发生表面吸附,使水的表面张力下降,即P（AMC14AB）也具有表面活性;随着浓度增大,表面吸附量增大,水的表面张力持续下降;当表面吸附达到饱和时,表面张力一浓度曲线上出现突变点,该点应该定义为饱和的表面吸附浓度（SSAC）,而不应该再称为临界胶束浓度．P（AMC14AB）单分子链胶束溶液对疏水有机物（甲苯）的增溶情况,明显不同于普通小分子表面活性剂十六烷基二甲基溴化铵（CTAB）的多分子胶束溶液,甲苯增溶量-P（AMC14AB）浓度的关系曲线上无突变点,而且对甲苯的增溶能力高于CTAB的多分子胶束溶液．     

On the Behavior of Nonionic Surfactants at the N-Heptane/Silica Gel Interface: Influence of the Presence of Interfacial Water Inferred from Adsorption Isotherms and Calorimetric Data

The behavior of two polydisperse nonionic surfactants, poly (oxyethylene) glycol alkylphenyl ether TX-35 and TX-100, at the prewetted silica gel/n-heptane and dried silica gel/n-heptane interfaces has been compared by the determination of the average adsorption isotherms of the polydisperse surfactants and of displacement enthalpies. From HPLC experiments, we could also separately quantify the adsorption of each ethyleneoxide (EO) fractions for silica gel from the polydisperse surfactant solution. The adsorption isotherms clearly indicate an incomplete preferential adsorption of the large (EO) chains over the small ones, as well on dried silica gel as on a prehydrated sample. This preferential adsorption and its driving force follow the solubility rules of the poly(oxyethylene) glycol alkylphenyl ether in an apolar solvent and support the idea of a solubility-limited adsorption: solubility in organic solvents of the smaller (EO) chains is much more significant than that of the longer ones and hence prevents adsorption of the smaller species. Consequently, it is observed that the presence of interfacial water decreases the affinity of TX-35 molecules for the hydrophilic silica surface due to the hydration of (EO) chains. In contrast, for TX-100 adsorption after the prewetting treatment the clearest trend is a drastic increase of the adsorption ascribed to the additional solubilization (and micellization) of the TX-100 molecules in the interfacial aqueous phase. The differential molar enthalpies of displacement show a change in the adsorption mechanism, depending on the presence of molecular water on the surface. In the initial part of the adsorption isotherm, a prevailing exothermic process is obtained with prehydrated silica and suggests that hydration of the polar heads of TX-35 and the solubilization of the TX-35 in interfacial water are occurring. For higher equilibrium concentrations, the enthalpies of displacement observed with the prehydrated adsorbent become slightly lower than those obtained with dry silica gel. It may be that this difference is due to the micellization phenomenon of the surfactant species with longer EO chains in interfacial water. These features emphasize the influence of interfacial water on the adsorption of EO fractions from organic solvent. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Reactivity of inorganic α-nucleophiles in acyl group transfer processes in water and surfactant micelles: I. Systems based on organic complexes of tribromide anion

Systems based on organic complexes of tribromide anion generate upon dissolution in water nucleophile–oxidant couple HOBr/BrO^– and accelerate hydrolysis of ethyl 4-nitrophenyl ethylphosphonate, diethyl 4-nitrophenyl phosphate, and 4-nitrophenyl p-toluenesulfonate by a factor of 15–90 in the presence of cationic surfactant micelles. As in water, hypobromite ion in surfactant micelles acts as α-nucleophile, and the magnitude of the α-effect almost does not change in going from water to micelles. Micellar effects of surfactants are determined by the nucleophilicity of hypobromite ion in surfactant micelles and by solubilization of the substrate and BrO^–, which largely depend on the counterion concentration in the micelle surface layer. The main factor responsible for the observed acceleration is increased reactant concentration in the micellar pseudophase.     

Water solubilization capacity of mixed reverse micelles: effect of surfactant component, the nature of the oil, and electrolyte concentration

Solubilization of water in mixed reverse micellar systems with anionic surfactant (AOT) and nonionic surfactants (Brijs, Spans, Tweens, Igepal CO 520), cationic surfactant (DDAB)-nonionic surfactants (Brijs, Spans, Igepal CO 520), and nonionic (Igepal CO 520)-nonionics (Brijs, Spans) in oils of different chemical structures and physical properties (isopropyl myristate, isobutyl benzene, cyclohexane) has been studied at 303 K. The enhancement in water solubilization has been evidenced in these systems with some exceptions. The maximum water solubilization capacity (omega(0,max)) in mixed reverse micellar systems occurred at a certain mole fraction of a nonionic surfactant, which is indicated as X(nonionic,max). The addition of electrolyte (NaCl or NaBr) in these systems tends to enhance their solubilization capacities further both at a fixed composition of nonionic (X(nonionic); 0.1) and at X(nonionic,max) at 303 K. The maximum in solubilization capacity of electrolyte (omega(max)) was obtained at an optimal electrolyte concentration (designated as [NaCl](max) or [NaBr](max)). All these parameters, omega(0,max) vis-a-vis X(nonionic,max) and omega(max) vis-a-vis [NaCl](max), have been found to be dependent on the surfactant component (content, EO chains, and configuration of the polar head group, and the hydrocarbon moiety of the nonionic surfactants) and type of oils. The conductance behavior of these systems has also been investigated, focusing on the influences of water content (omega), content of nonionics (X(nonionic)), concentration of electrolyte ([NaCl] or [NaBr]), and oil. Percolation of conductance has been observed in some of these systems and explained by considering the influences of the variables on the rigidity of the oil/water interface and attractive interactions of the surfactant aggregates. Percolation zones have been depicted in the solubilization capacity vs X(nonionic) or [electrolyte] curves in order to correlate with maximum in water or electrolyte solubilization capacity. The overall results, obtained in these studies, have been interpreted in terms of the model proposed by Shah and co-workers for the solubility of water in water-in-oil microemulsions, as their model proposed that the two main effects that determine the solubility of these systems are curvature of the surfactant film separating the oil and water and interactions between water droplets.     

A two-state model for selective solubilization of benzene-limonene mixtures in sodium dihexyl sulfosuccinate microemulsions

When surfactants are used to solubilize oil, the oil to be solubilized is often a mixture of components with differing properties, for example, solubilization of drug molecules in microemulsion formulations, remediation of organic polluted aquifers using surfactants, and so forth. Previous research has demonstrated that selective solubilization of one organic component over the other may occur if the organic components are dissimilar. In this research, we investigated selective solubilization from benzene-limonene mixtures in Winsor type I and III microemulsion systems containing water, sodium di-n-hexyl sulfosuccinate, and NaCl. The effect of the oil phase composition and the electrolyte concentration on the selectivity was studied. It was found that the selectivity toward benzene was highest at low electrolyte and benzene concentrations, decreasing as the electrolyte or benzene concentration increased. The results are discussed on the basis of the two-state solubilization theory and by correlating the curvature of the surfactant film in the microemulsion with changes of the electrolyte concentration and the oil phase composition. A simple mathematical model is developed for the selectivity, which combines the two-state solubilization theory and the net-average curvature model of microemulsion solubilization to yield close agreement with the experimental data.     

Experimental and theoretical investigation of the micellar-assisted solubilization of ibuprofen in aqueous media

Surfactants can be used to increase the solubility of poorly soluble drugs in water and to increase drug bioavailability. In this article, the aqueous solubilization of the nonsteroidal, antiinflammatory drug ibuprofen is studied experimentally and theoretically in micellar solutions of anionic (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS), cationic (dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide, DTAB), and nonionic (dodecyl octa(ethylene oxide), C12E8) surfactants possessing the same hydrocarbon "tail" length but differing in their hydrophilic headgroups. We find that, for these three surfactants, the aqueous solubility of ibuprofen increases linearly with increasing surfactant concentration. In particular, we observed a 16-fold increase in the solubility of ibuprofen relative to that in the aqueous buffer upon the addition of 80 mM DTAB and 80 mM C12E8 but only a 5.5-fold solubility increase upon the addition of 80 mM SDS. The highest value of the molar solubilization capacity (chi) was obtained for DTAB (chi = 0.97), followed by C12E8 (chi = 0.72) and finally by SDS (chi = 0.23). A recently developed computer simulation/molecular-thermodynamic modeling approach was extended to predict theoretically the solubilization behavior of the three ibuprofen/surfactant mixtures considered. In this modeling approach, molecular-dynamics (MD) simulations were used to identify which portions of ibuprofen are exposed to water (hydrated) in a micellar environment by simulating a single ibuprofen molecule at an oil/water interface (modeling the micelle core/water interface). On the basis of this input, molecular-thermodynamic modeling was then implemented to predict (i) the micellar composition as a function of surfactant concentration, (ii) the aqueous solubility of ibuprofen as a function of surfactant concentration, and (iii) the molar solubilization capacity (chi). Our theoretical results on the solubility of ibuprofen in aqueous SDS and C12E8 surfactant solutions are in good agreement with the experimental data. The ibuprofen solubility in aqueous DTAB solutions was somewhat overpredicted because of challenges associated with accurately modeling the strong electrostatic interactions between the anionic ibuprofen and the cationic DTAB. Our results indicate that computer simulations of ibuprofen at a flat oil/water interface can be used to obtain accurate information about the hydrated and the unhydrated portions of ibuprofen in a micellar environment. This information can then be used as input to a molecular-thermodynamic model of self-assembly to successfully predict the aqueous solubilization behavior of ibuprofen in the three surfactant systems studied.     

胶束催化作用下实现聚苯乙烯的氯甲基化

用紫外分光光度法测定了离子型表面活性剂胶束溶液对聚苯乙烯四氯化碳溶液的增溶性能; 用胶束催化法实现了聚苯乙烯的氯甲基化, 用红外光谱法和佛尔哈德法表征了氯甲基化聚苯乙烯的化学结构与组成; 通过比较阴、 阳离子表面活性剂及结构不同的阳离子表面活性剂的催化效果, 探索了胶束催化的作用机理, 考察了表面活性剂结构对催化作用的影响规律. 结果表明, 表面活性剂胶束溶液可增溶聚苯乙烯的四氯化碳溶液, 随着四氯化碳在胶束中的增溶, 聚苯乙烯可转移至表面活性剂的胶束中; 胶束催化是实现聚苯乙烯的氯甲基化的有效途经, 仅用3.35 g/L的十六甲基三甲基溴化铵(CTAB),  于65 ℃， 5 h内即可使聚苯乙烯大分子链中的苯环氯甲基化程度达到37%; 聚苯乙烯与甲醛、 氯化氢的反应过程由亲电取代和亲核取代串联而成, 阳离子表面活性剂比阴离子表面活性剂的催化作用更加有效, 说明亲核取代是慢步骤; 阳离子表面活性剂疏水链越长, 对聚苯乙烯的增溶效果越好, 催化作用越强.     

Chemical synthesis and crystallization of the dipeptide AcPheIleNH(2) in TTAB/heptane/octanol reversed micelles

The chemical synthesis of the dipeptide acetyl phenyl iso-leucin-amide (AcPheIleNH(2)) in tetradecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (TTAB)/ heptane/octanol/carbonate buffer reversed micelles is described. The co-existence of the surfactant bounded minute water pools within the bulk organic solvent enables the simultaneous solubilization of the polar (IleNH(2)) and apolar (AcPheOEt) substrates, thus enabling the synthesis to take place at the micellar interface. The synthesis was favored by increasing the micellar interface via an increase in water content and surfactant concentration. The best dipeptide yield (87%) was obtained at 32 degrees C, with the largest concentrations of TTAB (200 mM) and water (1100 mM) tested. The low solubility of the dipeptide in the micellar media further led to the formation and growth of needle-like crystals during synthesis, thus enabling the removal of product from solution.