Electron processes in AOT reverse micelles. Part 2. Influence of oil phase. Pulse radiolysis study

Reverse micellar systems formed of AOT, i.e. sodium bis(2-ethyl-1-hexyl) sulfo-succinate, in different hydrocarbons, without water, dry micelles, and in the presence of water, wet micelles, have been studied by means of pulse radiolysis. Different localization sites of hydrated electron within wet reverse micelle including a triad e(aq)(-)/Na+/SO3-. (absorption band peaking around 610 nm) are proposed and discussed to explain the influence of the ratio [water]/[AOT] and of the kind of alkane on the position and half-width of the absorption spectrum of the hydrated electron. Sulfite radical, necessary to form such triad, is released as a result of electron interaction with AOT molecule within reverse micelles (RM) containing water. A product of direct electron attachment to AOT molecule, AOT radical anion, has been observed spectrophotometrically only in dry AOT RM at ambient temperature (absorption band peaking around 330 nm). (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.