Influence of Nature of Spacer and Hydrocarbon Chain Length on Micellar Encapsulation of Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons by Carbohydrate Derived Non‐Ionic Gemini Surfactants in Aqueous Ethanol Medium

Abstract

Gemini surfactants with rigid aromatic spacer-CH 2-ArCH 2-: 6,6 0-(N,N 0-di(alkyl)-1,4-phenylenedimethyl amino)bis(6-deoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-D-glucofuranose) and Gemini surfactants with flexible aliphatic spacer-(CH 2) 6-: 6,6 0-(N,N 0-di(2-hydroxyalkyl)-1,6-hexanediamino)bis(6-deoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-D-glucofuranose) have been synthesized, and their micellar properties for encapsulation of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) viz. fluorene, anthracene, triptycene, and pyrene in aqueous ethanol medium have been studied by means of electronic spectroscopy. The micellar study reveals that nature of spacer and length of hydrocarbon chain of the surfactant has profound effect on micellar encapsulation of PAH. The surfactants with rigid aromatic spacer show greater encapsulation as compared to surfactants with flexible aliphatic spacer. Moreover, the more hydrophobic surfactant, i.e. the surfactant with a longer hydrocarbon chain, shows greater encapsulation toward PAH which are encapsulated in the order of their smaller size.