Solubilization of Gases in Micelles

In the preceding section, the importance of long hydrocarbon chains of surfactants to the stability of large rodlike micelles was reviewed. At the same time, however, these hydrocarbon chains can also serve effectively for the solubilization of various gases within such micelles. 

It is well known that surfactants dissolved in aqueous solutions serve to enhance the solubility of ordinarily insoluble organic compounds, both solids and liquids. This phenomenon, commonly referred to as solubilization (ref. 501), has important commercial applications and as a consequence, has been the subject of considerable research (for reviews see ref. 450,502-504). Yet, as King and co-workers point out (ref. 501,505,506), less well known is the long-recognized fact that micellar solutions of surfactants are also capable of solubilizing gases (and vapors of low-molecular-weight compounds) in much the same manner as 

Accordingly, this probable site of gas solubilization suggests that the much higher solubility of nonpolar gases in micelles than in water ought to be observed in both spherical and rod-shaped 

4 SIZE DISTRIBUTION OF SYNTHETIC MICROBUBBLES FORMATION, COALESCENCE, FISSION, AND DISAPPEARANCE 

---