The interaction between n-alkyl trimethylammonium bromides with poly(l-aspartate): a thermodynamics study

Specific conductivities of a homologous series of n-alkyl trimethylammonium bromides (C₈,C₁₀,C₁₂ and C₁₄TABs) in the presence of poly(l-aspartate) in glycine buffer at pH 3.2 and 25 ^∘C have been measured over a range of C _n TAB concentrations. From the conductivity changes, the number of surfactant molecules absorbed onto the polymer, the Gibbs free energies of adsorption and the equilibrium constants have been calculated. A statistical thermodynamics analysis was used to obtain the Gibbs free energies of adsorption. The results obtained using both methods are compared and analysed. Received: 15 December 1999 Revised form: 29 February 2000 Accepted: 3 March 2000