Electronic Spectroscopic Study of the Formation of a Molecular Complex Between Asphaltene and o-Chloranil in SDS Aqueous Micellar Medium

Ultraviolet-visible absorption and steady-state fluorescence of asphaltene in sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) micellar medium containing o-chloranil have been studied. Spectroscopic results indicate formation of a complex between asphaltene and o-chloranil. The absorption spectrum of the complex has been detected by difference spectral method. The position of maximum absorption of the complex in micellar medium agrees well with that of the complex in the carbon tetrachloride medium studied previously. The formation constant (K) has been determined using Benesi-Hildebrand equation utilizing absorption spectral data. Formation of ground state complex involving asphaltene and o-chloranil has also been evidenced from the study of quenching of asphaltene fluorescence by o-chloranil. The value of K, as obtained by Stern-Volmer plot, agrees well with that obtained by absorption spectrophotometric method.