Association of neutral red with micelles and its effect on the pKa

Abstract

The interactions of neutral red with cationic surfactants, viz., N-hexadecylpyridinium chloride and alkyltrimethylammonium bromides; a nonionic surfactant, viz., Triton X100; and an anionic surfactant, viz., sodium dodecyl sulfate, were investigated spectroscopically. The equilibrium constants for the association of the indicator with the micelles were determined from the apparent association constants at constant pH at 298 K. The effects of the indicator-micelle association on the apparent pKa of the indicator in aqueous surfactant solutions are discussed. It was shown that the apparent pKa of the indicator in cationic surfactant solution can be predicted from knowledge of the indicator-micelle association constant.