Effect of in situ mixed micellization of ester-functionalized gemini surfactant at different pHs on solubilization and cosolubilization of various polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons of varying hydrophobicities

Showkat Rashid; Umar Nabi Tak; Mohd Sajid Lone; Oyais Ahmad Chat; Parvaiz Ahmad Bhat; Firdaus Ahmad Ahanger; Imtiyaz Ahmad Bhat; Aijaz Ahmad Dar

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122489

Effect of in situ mixed micellization of ester-functionalized gemini surfactant at different pHs on solubilization and cosolubilization of various polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons of varying hydrophobicities

Environ Pollut. 2023 Nov 1:336:122489. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122489. Epub 2023 Sep 2.

Authors

Showkat Rashid¹, Umar Nabi Tak¹, Mohd Sajid Lone¹, Oyais Ahmad Chat², Parvaiz Ahmad Bhat³, Firdaus Ahmad Ahanger¹, Imtiyaz Ahmad Bhat¹, Aijaz Ahmad Dar⁴

Affiliations

¹ Soft Matter Research Group, Physical Chemistry Section, Department of Chemistry, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar, 190006, J&K, India.
² Soft Matter Research Group, Physical Chemistry Section, Department of Chemistry, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar, 190006, J&K, India; Department of Chemistry, Government Degree College Kupwara, J&K, 193222, India.
³ Soft Matter Research Group, Physical Chemistry Section, Department of Chemistry, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar, 190006, J&K, India; Department of Chemistry, Government Degree College Pulwama, 192301, J & K, India.
⁴ Soft Matter Research Group, Physical Chemistry Section, Department of Chemistry, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar, 190006, J&K, India. Electronic address: aijaz_n5@yahoo.co.in.

PMID: 37666460
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122489

Abstract

A pH controlled cleavability unfolds the 3-in-1 surfactant feature of an ester-bonded gemini surfactant, 2, 2'-[(oxybis (ethane-1,2-diyl))bis (oxy)]bis (N-hexadecyl-N,Ndimethyl-2-oxoethanaminium) dichloride (C16-C4O2-C16), by reinforcing in-situ mixed micellization between cleaved components at non-neutral pH (pH 3,12). The triplicity is assigned to two mixed-micelle variants at pH 3 and pH 12 besides the unhydrolyzed C16-C4O2-C16 at pH 7. The pH-controlled aggregation of such trichotomic surfactant dramatically enhances the micellar solubilization/cosolubilization of PAHs viz. naphthalene (Np), phenanthrene (Ph), pyrene (Py), perylene (Pe). The cosolubilization of binary/ternary PAH mixtures in such remarkable micellar assemblies at pH 3, 7 and 12 yields intriguing synergistic or antagonistic solubility outcomes correlated to PAH-PAH and PAH-micelle interactions. This study provides valuable insights into the potential applications of the ester-bonded gemini surfactant for the cosolubilization of undesirable hydrophobic compounds at natural sites having variable pH.

Keywords: Cosolubilization; Gemini; Molar solubilization ratio; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Surfactant enhanced remediation.