This manuscript reports the solubilization of two reactive dyes viz. reactive black-5 (RB-5) and reactive black-8 (RB-8) in the micellar media of cationic surfactant, cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) by differential UV/visible spectroscopy. Absorption spectra of said dyes in the presence of CTAB provide strong evidence about dye–surfactant interaction. In premicellar region ion association pair is formed between dye and surfactant while in post micellar region dye molecules get accommodated within the micelles. The values of critical micelle concentration (CMC) of CTAB in the presence of dyes, partition coefficient; Kx, free energy of partition, ∆Gp, binding constant, Kb and free energy of binding, ∆Gb were determined and compared for both dyes. It is, thus, concluded that RB-5 is solubilized to greater extent than RB-8 because of its incorporation in palisade layer of micelle close to micelle-water interface.

Interaction of sulphone based reactive dyes, designated as dye-1 and dye-2, with cationic micellar system of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), has been investigated by spectroscopic and conductometeric measurements. Efficiency of the selected micellar systems is assessed by the values of binding constant (Kb), partition coefficient (Kx) and respective Gibbs energies. Critical micelle concentration (CMC) of surfactant, electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions as well as polarity of the medium plays significant role in this phenomenon. The negative values of Gibbs energies of binding (∆Gb) and partition (∆Gp) predicts the feasibility and spontaneity of respective processes. Similarly negative values of ∆Gm and ∆Hm and positive values of ∆Sm, calculated from conductometeric data, further, revealed the exothermicity, spontaneity and, thus, stability of system. The results, herein, have disclosed the strong interaction between dye and surfactant molecules. The dye-2 has been observed to be solubilized to greater extent, as compared to dye 1, due to strong interaction ith hydrophiles of CTAB and accommodation of its molecules in palisade layer of micelle closer to the micelle/water interface.