Properties of Water Solubilized in Reversed Micellar Systems of Dodecylammonium Propionate in Nonpolar Solvents

The properties of the reversed micelles of dodecylammonium propionate (DAP) and of solubilized water were examined for systems with hexane, chloroform and benzene as a nonpolar component. The aggregation number of DAP, the conductivity, the heat of solution of water, IR and NMR spectra, and near infrared spectra of solubilized water were measured. From the results the properties of the reversed micellar system were analyzed, the following conclusion being obtained. The aggregation state of DAP is scarcely affected by the addition of water. Water is first dispersed in the nonpolar organic phase, and then solubilized in the cores of the reversed micelles. The former is free or weakly bonded water, while the latter is bonded water like that in the bulk phase. The catalytic effect of DAP reversed micellar system is discussed.