Micropartioning and solubilization enhancement of 1,2-bis(bis(4-chlorophenyl) methyl)diselane in mixed micelles of binary and ternary cationic–nonionic surfactant mixtures

The aqueous solubilization of the organoselenium compound viz., 1,2-bis(bis(4-chlorophenyl)methyl)diselane [(ClC6H4)2CHSe]2 has been investigated experimentally in micellar solutions of two cationic (hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide, CTAB, hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride, CTAC) and one nonionic (polyoxyethylene(20)mono-n-hexadecyl ether, Brij 58) surfactants possessing the same hydrocarbon “tail” length and in their single as well as equimolar binary and ternary mixed states. Solubilization capacity determined with spectrophotometry and tensiometry has been quantified in terms of molar solubilization ratio and micelle–water partition coefficient. FTIR, UV–vis, fluorescence and zeta potential measurements have been utilized to ascertain the interaction of organochalcogen compound with surfactants. Equimolar cationic–nonionic surfactant combinations show better solubilization capacity than pure cationics or nonionics, whereas equimolar cationic–cationic–nonionic ternary surfactant systems exhibit intermediate solubilization efficiency between their single and binary counterparts. Locus of solubilization of [(ClC6H4)2CHSe]2 in different micellar solutions was probed by UV–visible spectroscopy. The investigation has presented precious information for the preference of mixed surfactants for solubilizing water-insoluble compounds. Indeed the solubilization aptitude of these surfactants is not merely related to molar capacity. The results furnish adequate support to justify comprehensive exploration of the surfactant properties that influence solubilization.