Micellar solubilization

Schematic of micellar solubilization of fatty substance in water with the use of a dispersant

Micellar solubilization (solubilization) is the process of incorporating the solubilizate (the component that undergoes solubilization) into or onto micelles.[1] Solubilization may occur in a system consisting of a solvent, an association colloid (a colloid that forms micelles), and at least one other solubilizate.

Usage of the term

[edit]

Solubilization is distinct from dissolution because the resulting fluid is a colloidal dispersion involving an association colloid. This suspension is distinct from a true solution, and the amount of the solubilizate in the micellar system can be different (often higher) than the regular solubility of the solubilizate in the solvent.

In non-chemical literature and in everyday language, the term "solubilization" is sometimes used[citation needed] in a broader meaning as "to bring to a solution or (non-sedimenting) suspension" by any means, e.g., leaching by a reaction with an acid.

Application

[edit]

Micellar solubilization is widely utilized, e.g. in laundry washing using detergents, in the pharmaceutical industry, for formulations of poorly soluble drugs in solution form,[2] and in cleanup of oil spills using dispersants.

Mechanism

[edit]

Literature distinguishes two major mechanisms of solubilization process of oil by surfactant micelles, affecting the kinetics of solubilization:[3] surface reaction, i.e., by transient adsorption of micelles at the water-oil interface, and bulk reaction, whereby the surfactant micelles capture dissolved oil molecules.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "micellar solubilization". The IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology. 2009. doi:10.1351/goldbook.M03887.
  2. ^ Jain A, Ran Y, Yalkowsky S, "Effect of pH-Sodium Lauryl Sulfate Combination on Solubilization of PG-300995 (an Anti-HIV Agent): A Technical Note." AAPS PharmSciTech. 2004; 5(3): article 45. [1]
  3. ^ P. D. Todorov, P. A. Kralchevsky, N. D. Denkov, G. Broze, and A. Mehreteab, "Kinetics of Solubilization of n-Decane and Benzene by Micellar Solutions of Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate". Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 245, 371–382 (2002), doi:10.1006/jcis.2001.8031 [2]


[edit]

Solubilization of Homopolymers by Block Copolymer Micelles in Dilute Solutions, J. Phys. Chem., 1995, 99 (11), pp 3723–3731, Jose R. Quintana, Ramiro A. Salazar, Issa Katime