Interaction of substituted benzoic acids with polysorbate 20 micelles.

Equilibrium solubilities of a series of substituted benzoic acids in different concentrations of polysorbate 20 at controlled pH were measured. The maintenance of pH was achieved using a pH-stat assembly. A linear relationship was found between the amount of benzoic acid solubilized and surfactant concentration. As solubilizate polarity increased, the amount solubilized also increased. Solubility data were analyzed, and the interaction between solubilizate molecules and micelles was calculated in terms of partition coefficients of ionized and unionized molecules between aqueous and micellar phases. A linear relationship between pi values (log partition coefficients) of functional groups and aqueous-micellar partition coefficient was found.