Water induced microstructure transformation of diglycerol monolaurate reverse micelles in ethylbenzene

Water induced microstructure transitions of diglycerol monolaurate (C(12)G(2)) reverse micelles in aromatic liquid ethylbenzene have been investigated using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and rheometry. The SAXS data have been evaluated by generalized indirect Fourier transformation (GIFT) and geometrical model fittings. We found that the C(12)G(2) spontaneously self-assembles into ellipsoidal prolate micelles in ethylbenzene under ambient conditions. The maximum diameter of the micellar core is ca. 5.0 nm. We noted that 5% C(12)G(2)/ethylbenzene solubilize 0.8% water and the water causes micellar growth; micellar size is ~ 3 times bigger than the empty micelles. Rheology data showed that viscosity of 5% C(12)G(2)/ethylbenzene increases with increase in the water concentration sustaining the SAXS results that the viscosity increase is caused due to micellar growth. We found that increase in temperature of the water incorporated system decreases micellar size, which is equivalent to a rod-to-sphere type transition. The water induced microstructure transformations can be explained in terms of critical packing parameter, cpp. Water hydrates hydrophilic headgroup of surfactant so that effective cross-sectional area of surfactant increases. As a result the cpp decreases and micelles grow. On the other hand, increasing temperature promotes interpenetration of solvent and surfactant chain as a result cpp increases due to decrease in the effective cross-sectional area of surfactant. Moreover dehydration may occur and micelles with more curved interface are formed due to increases in the cpp.