Effect of sorbitol and inositol on the critical micelle concentration of nonionic surfactants in water and in aqueous urea

Abstract

The critical micelle concentrations (cmc) of non-ionic surfactants in water and in aqueous urea with or without hexahydric alcohols, sorbitol and inositol, were determined. In water the cmc's of the surfactants were decreased by the addition of the hexahydric alcohols. In addition, there was a remarkable difference in the decreasing ability between these two hexahydric alcohols. Inositol decreased the cmc's more markedly than sorbitol. In aqueous urea the effect of these hexahydric alcohols on the cmc's and the difference in the decreasing ability between the two alcohols were less than those in water. These results were explained in terms of the effect of the hexahydric alcohols on the structure of water.