Micelle formation in sodium dodecyl sulfate and dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide at different temperatures

pH changes as a function of concentration for sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) were observed by the addition of 1 N HCl and 1 N KOH. pH values increased up to the critical micellar concentration (CMC) for the SDS/HCl system and decreased for the DTAB/KOH system. In the SDS/HCl and DTAB/KOH systems, the micellar phase had a fixed composition and was homogeneous and monodisperse above the CMC. However, in the SDS/KOH and DTAB/HCl systems, pH values increased in a continuous and gradual manner below and above the CMC, and the properties of the micellar phase changed with temperature as a function of concentration, giving rise to inhomogeneity and polydispersity.