Formation of Vesicles and Micelles in Aqueous Systems of Tetrameric Acids as Determined by Dynamic Light Scattering

A comprehensive dynamic light scattering (DLS) study on the system BP10Na4/water is presented. BP 10Na4 is a tetrameric fatty acid in sodium form. In order to change molecular packing conditions both electrolyte (NaCl) and alcohol (1-butanol, 1-pentanol) are added to the surfactant system. Phase diagrams of the systems reveal not only an extensive micellization, but also the occurrence of a lamellar liquid crystalline D phase. The DLS study shows an existence of vesicles at very dilute BP10Na4 concentrations ( ≪cmc) and also a co-existence of micelles and vesicles at higher BP10Na4 concentrations. Cryo-TEM pictures verify the existence of the vesicles. Based on the DLS and SLS experiments the weight-average molar mass of the micelles are estimated to be 13500 g/mol at 100 mM NaCl and 22700 g/mol at 600 mM. The corresponding aggregation numbers are 13 and 22, respectively.