Spectrophotometric studies on surfactants. I. Interactions between cationic and anionic surfactants

Abstract

Interactions taking place in aqueous solutions when cationic surfactants, alkyl trimethyl ammonium bromides (CnTABs, dodecyl or octadecyl), are added to solutions of anionic surfactants, like alkyl dithiocarbonates (xanthates, hexyl or nonyl) and dodecyl sulfate or laurate ions, result either in the formation of 1:1 complexes or in mixed micelles. Infrared and ultraviolet spectra show that complexes are largely ionic, with some perturbations of bonds in anions and a limited hydrolysis in the case of laurate ions.