The effect of medium chain length alcohols on the micellar properties of sodium dodecyl sulfate in sodium chloride solutions

The effect of medium chain length alcohols on the micellar size and shape of sodium dodecyl sulfate in electrolyte solutions has been investigated by means of small angle neutron scattering (SANS), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and viscosity measurements. The surfactant content was kept constant throughout, at 0.04 m, and the alcohols used were 1-butanol, 1-pentanol, and 1-hexanol. The data from the various techniques are qualitatively in agreement. The SANS data generally fit a model for prolate ellipsoids with varying ratios of the major to minor axis. Addition of butanol first leads to a decrease in micellar size, the major to minor axis ratio decreases from about 6 to less than 2. However, as the butanol concentration exceeds 0.5 m, the micelles starts to grow again. The same can be seen from the diffusion coefficient as measured by DLS. Addition of pentanol or hexanol do not bring about this minimum in micellar size. The minor axis decreases and the major axis increases as these alcohols are added. Thus these alcohols make the prolate ellipsoidal micelles grow continuously towards large rod-like structures. The viscosity data are less detailed, but confirm the general trend upon alcohol addition.