Mass transfer of water-insoluble organic compound from octadecylsilyl-silica gel into water in the presence of a nonionic surfactant.

The release of perylene from octadecylsilyl (ODS)-silica gel into water using a nonionic surfactant was kinetically studied by single microparticle injection and absorption microspectroscopy techniques. The release of perylene from the porous microparticles significantly depended on the surfactant concentration. The release rate constant was inversely proportional to the microparticle radius; the rate-determining step was the process at the spherical microparticle surface. The mechanism is discussed in terms of the solubilization of perylene at the microparticle surface by the micelle.