Study of Micelle Properties and Thermodynamics of Micellization of the Benzethonium Chloride

Abstract

Abstract The self-association of benzethonium chloride (BZCl) in aqueous solution has been analyzed as a function of temperature. The critical micelle concentration (CMC.), the degree of counterion binding (β) and thermodynamic parameters of micellization (molar Gibbs energy, enthalpy and entropy of micellization) were determined using six experimental methods (conductometry, potentiometry, UV spectrophotometry, spectrofluorimetry, NMR and densitometry) within the temperature range 20–50°C. All methods used gave very similar values for CMC. Changes in the thermodynamic parameters on micellization were determined by applying a mass action model.