Liquid solubilization dynamics: Oleic acid in bile salt

Abstract

The solubilization dynamics of oleic acid by aqueous sodium taurodeoxycholate solutions at 37°C does not conform to previous resistance in series models involving diffusion and interfacial steps. This is especially true as the ionic strength of the aqueous solution is increased by adding NaCl or by increasing the taurodeoxycholate concentration above 2%. Experiments conducted with a liquid/liquid stirred cell show that as the ionic strength is increased, the flux of oleic acid into the aqueous solution exceeds a reasonable value for the diffusion limit, assuming that oleic acid diffuses only in mixed micelles, and that the flux becomes independent of flow at these high ionic strengths. Two alternative models for the solubilization process are proposed. One involves a rapid exchange of oleic acid between mixed micelles and oleic acid free micelles in parallel with mixed micelle diffusion; and the second involves formation of a small emulsion droplet at the interface, which contains significantly more oleic acid than a mixed micelle, and which rapidly dissolves into micellar solution as the droplet leaves the interface.