Solution properties of sodium n-dodecyl sulfate in the presence of meso-tetrakis (N-methylpyridinium-4-yl) porphyrin

The solution properties of sodium n-dodecyl sulfate, as an anionic surfactant in the presence of a cationic water-soluble 5, 10, 15, 20-tetrakis (N-methylpyridinium-4-yl) porphyrin (TMPyP) has been comprehensively studied by means of conductometry, UV-vis and resonance light scattering (RLS) spectroscopies. The results represent the decreasing of critical micelle concentration of SDS solution due to increasing of TMPyP concentration. The stabilization of SDS micelle is due to neutralization of negative charge at the micelle surface. The presence of three different species of TMPyP in SDS solution has been unequivocally demonstrated: free porphyrin monomers, porphyrin monomers or aggregates bound to the micelles, and nonmicellar porphyrin/surfactant aggregates. Our results show SDS induced an aggregation in TMPyP. In fact two kinds of J-aggregations were observed: one of them for porphyrin monomers or aggregates bound to the micelles and the other for nonmicellar porphyrin/surfactant aggregates. However, the results represent the electrostatic interaction of TMPyP with SDS anion below the cmc.