Spectral study of Eriochrome Blue Black R in different cationic surfactant solutions.

Interactions of anionic dye Eriochrome Blue Black R (EBBR) with various cationic micelles of surfactants n-alkyltrimethylammonium CnTAB (n=12; 14; 16 and 18) have been investigated spectrophotometrically at 25°C in premicellar and postmicellar region. The results have shown that with increasing the alkyl chain length of surfactants, the maximum absorbance of EBBR shifted to a higher wavelength and the binding constants of EBBR to cationic micelles (Kb) increases. This confirms that the surfactant micelle, which has a longer alkyl hydrocarbon chain, enables greater solubilization of dye. Thus, the hydrophobic interaction of the dye with micelles increases in the order: C12TAB<C14TAB<C16TAB<C18TAB.