Effect on the water pool properties of reverse micelles by addition of glycols

Abstract

In the present contribution, the effect of presence of glycols on the microstructure of reverse micellar formulation of water/AOT/isooctane is presented. It was found that OH, CO and C–O–C stretching frequency of reverse micelles in FTIR change in the presence of glycols. The microenvironment of the polar core and the interface of reverse micelles have been probed by UV–vis absorption probe, methyl orange. The results reveal that glycols are placed between the water phase and the organic phase penetrating the interfacial layer at low water content values whereas with the increase in water content, it migrates to the core water. The polarity of the interface has been further probed by measuring the empirical polarity index values, which decreases with the increase in water content. The effect of glycols on the variation of conductivity with temperature and water content has also been studied.