Micelle formation in non-aqueous solvents

The usual picture of the micelle in a non-aqueous solvent is that of the inverted micelle proposed by Hartley. In this, the polar head groups of the surfactant monomer are present in the centre of the micelle with the hydrocarbon chains extending outwards into the solvent. 

The reasons for micelle formation in organic solvents are somewhat different from those in aqueous solution. The main cause of micellization is the energy change due to dipole-dipole interactions between the polar head groups of the surfactant molecules. In certain cases hydrogen bond formation between head groups may also occur. Opposing micelle formation is the possible loss of translational, vibrational and rotational freedom of monomers when in the micelle. 

In other systems it has not been possible to detect a CMC even though the techniques used were of sufficient sensitivity to detect aggregation. Thus Lo et al. 

MUKERJEE and K. j. MYSELS Critical micelle concentrations of aqueous surfactant systems, NSRDS-NBS 36. US Gov. Printing Office, Washington, DC (1971). 

oKABAYASHi, M. OKUYAMA and T. KITAGAWA (1974) Bull. Chcm. Soc. Japan 47, 1075. 

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