Abstract
The physicochemical properties of biologically important benzalkonium chlorides (BKCs) and the effects of its structure on the de-chlorination of allyl chloride was studied by electrogenerated [Co(I)(bipyridine)3]+ (Co(I)) using an electrochemical technique. The results of [Co(II)(bipyridine)3]2+ (Co(II)) cyclic voltammetry in the presence of BKC demonstrates Co(II)/Co(III) redox couple for physicochemical analysis of BKC and Co(II)/Co(I) redox couple for catalytic application. Cyclic voltammetry over a range of scan rates and BKC concentrations revealed the BKC-bound Co(II)/Co(III) micelles showed that the identification of cmc and association of the probe Co(II) species, associated more in the hydrophobic region. In addition, change in diffusion coefficient value of Co(II)/Co(III) with BKC concentration demonstrates the association of Co(II) in micellar hydrophobic region. The beneficial effects of BKC could be accounted for by considering the benzyl headgroup-Co (II) precatalyst-volatile organic compounds (VOCs) (allyl chloride here) substrate interaction. Chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS) revealed 100% complete de-chlorination of allyl chloride accompanied by three non-chloro products. This is the first report of benzyl headgroup-induced micellar enhancement by an electrochemical method, showing that it is possible to use hydrophobic benzyl headgroup-substitution to tune the properties of micelles for various applications.
Highlights
Benzalkonium chloride (BKC) is used primarily as a preservative and antimicrobial agent, as well as a surfactant
The paper reported that the benzyl headgroup-bearing BKC micelles exerted significantly different effects on the oxidation of [Co(II)(bpy)3 ]2+ to [Co(III)(bpy)3 ]3+ as well as on the effect of electrocatalysis by the BKC bound electrogenerated Co(I)(bpy) complex
The presence of bulkier hydrophobic benzyl headgroups in BKC led to the preferred solubilization of the Co(II) complex (KCo(II) /KCo(III) = 2.9), a more positive onset potential for Co(II) oxidation to Co(III), and considerably larger micellar aggregates with decreasing DM-W2/3 values with concentration
Summary
Benzalkonium chloride (BKC) is used primarily as a preservative and antimicrobial agent, as well as a surfactant. Other than the medicinal field, BKC has a beneficiary role as a surfactant in the corrosion resistance of carbon steel because of its strong adsorption and hydrophobicity [3]. Benzalkonium chloride has been applied to remove biofilms on marine-based sensors or optical components [7,8], which highlights the need to determine the diffusion coefficient for BKC in water. Smith et al [9] developed a membrane diffusion method and derived the diffusion coefficient for BKC with C12 and C14 in water. Ultrafiltration or ultracentrifugation methods have been adopted to determine the partition coefficient of BKC and the free BKC surfactant concentration
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