Thermodynamics of micellization of octyltrimethylammonium bromide in 1,2-propanediol-water mixtures at temperatures from (293.15 to 308.15) K

The micellar properties of octyltrimethylammonium bromide (C₈TAB) in both water and aqueous solutions of 1,2-propanediol have been investigated using accurate measurements of density, sound velocity, and surface tension in the temperature range between 293.15 and 308.15 K. The critical micelle concentration, CMC, the ionization degree, β, the standard thermodynamic parameters of micellization: free energy, Δ_micG°, enthalpy, Δ_micH°, entropy, Δ_micS° and the free energy of transfer, Δ_trG°, of the surfactant octyltrimethylammonium bromide in both water and 1,2 propanediol aqueous solution were evaluated from the experimental results.

The CMC of the surfactant increases as the concentration of 1,2-propanediol increases, while the temperature does not exert important changes within the range considered.

The value of the micellization thermodynamic parameters suggests that adding 1,2-propanediol makes the micellization process less favorable.

The thermodynamic functions of transfer were calculated. The values of the free energy of transfer are small and positive and increase as the diol concentration increases confirming that the transfer of the surfactant from the bulk into the micelle is less favorable.