Experimental and theoretical investigation of micellization behavior of sodium dodecyl sulfate with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide in aqueous/urea solution at various temperatures

Mixed micelle formation behavior of cationic surfactant-cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in aqueous as well as in urea medium from 303.15 K to 323.15 K at 5 K interval was carried out by conductometric method. The differences between the experimental values of critical micelle concentrations (cmc) and ideal critical micelle concentrations ($cmc^{id}$) illustrate the interaction between the amphiphiles studied. The values of micellar mole fraction ($X_1^{Rub}$ (Rubingh), $X_1^M$ (Motomura), $X_1^{Rod}$ (Rodenas) and $X_1^{id}$(ideal) of surfactant CTAB determined by different proposed models and outcome indicate high involvement of CTAB in SDS-CTAB mixed micellization, which enhance by means of the augment of mole fraction of CTAB. The negative value of interaction parameter (${\beta}$) showed an attractive interaction involving CTAB and SDS. Activity coefficients were less than unity in all case, which also reveals the presence of interaction between CTAB & SDS. The negative ${\Delta}G^0_m$ values imply the spontaneous mixed micellization phenomenon. The attained values of ${\Delta}H^0_m$ were positive at inferior temperature, while negative at superior temperature. The negative ${\Delta}H^0_m$ values in urea ($NH_2CONH_2$) medium illustrate exothermic micellization process. The magnitudes of ${\Delta}S^0_m$ were positive in almost all cases. The excess free energy of mixed micelle formation (${\Delta}G_{ex}$) was found to be negative, which indicates the stability of mixed micelle as compared to the individual's components micelles.