Modification of molecular properties of some dyes in sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) micellar aqueous solution

The influence of SDS upon the molecular properties of proflavine (3,6-diaminoacridine), acridine yellow (2,7-dimethyl-3,6-diaminoacridine) and methylene blue (3,7-bis-dimethylamino-phenothiazine) was studied comparatively to their properties in that of aqueous media. The absorption and emission spectra of the three dyes in SDS aqueous solution (1-100 mmol/l) were recorded. The spectroscopic data also allowed the evaluation of the critical micellization concentration (CMC), acidity constants in fundamental (pk(a)) and excited (pK(*)(a)) states, and lifetimes of excited singlet states.