Quantitative model for prediction of hydrodynamic size of nonionic reverse micelles

Abstract

The sizes of nonionic reverse micelles were investigated as a function of the molecular structure of the surfactant, the type of oil, the total concentration of surfactant [NP], the ratio of surfactant to total surfactant ( r), the water to surfactant molar ratio ( ω), temperature, salt concentration, and polar phase. The basis of our investigation was a mixture of nonylphenol polyethoxylates—NP4 and NP7, various polar phases, and several oils. Micelle sizes were determined using dynamic light scattering (DLS). A central composite experimental design was used to quantitatively model micelle size as a function of ω, surfactant concentration, and r. The model has demonstrated the capability of predicting the mean diameter of micelles from 4 to 13 with a precision of ±2 nm as measured by DLS. This quantitative correlation between the size of reverse micelles and the synthetic variables provides the foundation for choosing experimental conditions to control reverse micelle size. In turn, this allows control of the size of nanoparticles synthesized within them.