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Counterion-induced changes to the micellization of surfactin-C16 aqueous solution
Yi Li1, Ai-Hua Zou, Ru-Qiang Ye
1Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Institute of Applied Chemistry, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, PR China.
Abstract:
The effects of counterions on surfactin-C(16) micelle solution with its critical micelle concentration (cmc), microenvironment properties in micelles, micelle size distribution, and morphology were investigated by fluorescence, dynamic light-scattering, and freeze-fracture transmission electron microscopy measurements. Counterions enhanced the surface activity of surfactin-C(16) and reduced the cmc. With the micellization of surfactin-C(16), it adopted a beta-sheet conformation, and univalent concentrations reduced micelle micropolarity, increased micelle microviscosity, and tended to cause formation of small and spherical micelles, while divalent counterions had a special effect. With low concentration of divalent cations, they had strong interaction with surfactin-C(16) micelles and tended to form larger micelle aggregates.
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