Excess enthalpies of solution of some primary and secondary alcohols in sodium dodecylsulfate micellar solutions

Abstract

The exces enthalpies of solution of some primary and secondary alcohols in aqueous sodium dodecylsulfate micellar solutions were measured and the results were explained by considering the distribution of alcohols between aqueous and micellar phases. The distribution constant and the enthalpy of transfer (and the standard free energy and entropy of transfer) were obtained. The thermodynamic parameters for the transfer of secondary alcohols from the aqueous to the sodium dodecylsulfate (NaDS) micellar phase differ slightly from those of the corresponding primary alcohols. For both series of alcohols the additivity rule holds for free energies of transfer whereas enthalpies and entropies display convex curves. The present data are compared to those for the transfer of the same solutes from the aqueous to the dodecyldimethylamine oxide (DDAO) and dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) micellar phases. The role of the hydrophilic interactions between the OH group and the micelles' head groups is formulated. The thermodynamics of the branched methyl group were determined. Furthermore, the thermodynamics of solvation of primary alcohols in water, in NaDS micelles, and in octane have been calculated using reference states based on the assumption that the empty space around alcohols in the initial and final states is the same. It is shown that the solvation of alcohols in NaDS micellar phase is enthalpy driven and that the thermodynamic properties of solvation vs. the length of the alcohol tail is the same for water and NaDS micelles whereas it is different for octane. A possible explanation for this difference is that the alkyl chain of alcohols folds in octane.