Interactions of 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol with aqueous micelles of Triton X-100

J Colloid Interface Sci. 2009 Feb 1;330(1):163-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2008.10.040. Epub 2008 Oct 21.

Abstract

The effect of 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE) on micellar properties of Triton X-100 (TX-100) in aqueous solutions was investigated by cloud point (CP), viscosity, surface tension, and fluorescence techniques. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) values of the corresponding mixtures were obtained by the pyrene 1:3 ratio method and by surface tension data using the pendant drop technique. All the techniques provided about the same values for the CMC. Up to 0.83 M TFE increased the CMC by 30%. The small increase in the CMC is consistent with a slight increase in the solubility of the TX-100. Fluorescence measurements indicate that the TFE decreased the aggregation number by about 30%. The CP decrease and the intrinsic viscosity increase with TFE concentration are consistent with a preferential interaction of TFE with TX-100 micelles. TFE molecules form hydrophobic domains in the micellar layer palisade because they hydrogen bond with the oxyethylene group in TX-100. The intrinsic viscosity data are consistent with an increase in micelle hydrodynamic radius owing to the presence of TFE.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Chemistry Techniques, Analytical / methods
  • Hydrogen Bonding
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Micelles*
  • Octoxynol / chemistry*
  • Trifluoroethanol / chemistry*
  • Water

Substances

  • Micelles
  • Water
  • Trifluoroethanol
  • Octoxynol