title: Ultrasonic spectrometry of aqueous solutions of alkyl maltosides: kinetics of micelle formation and head-group isomerization.
abstract: At frequencies between 100 kHz and 400 MHz, ultrasonic attenuation spectra are measured at 25 degrees C for aqueous solutions of hexyl-, heptyl-, octyl-, nonyl-, and decyl-beta-D-maltopyranoside as well as of decyl-alpha-D-maltopyranoside. The spectra with surfactant concentration c above the relevant critical micelle concentration (cmc) display three relaxation terms with discrete relaxation times. That with a relaxation time between 0.1 and 1.2 micros is due to exchange of monomers between micelles and the suspending phase. It is discussed in the light of the Teubner-Kahlweit-Aniansson-Wall model of the formation/decay kinetics of systems with Gaussian size distribution of micelles. The relaxation parameters are compared to those for solutions of other non-ionic surfactants, such as alkyl monoglycosides and poly(ethylene glycol) monoalkyl ethers. At c < cmc this low-frequency relaxation term is missing and at c approximately = cmc it is broadened, as is characteristic of solutions of oligomeric molecular structures rather than proper micelles. The relaxation terms with relaxation times between 6 and 15 ns and 0.7 and 2.3 ns reveal head-group rotations around glycosidic angles and isomerization of the exocyclic hydroxymethyl group, respectively. These unimolecular reactions are also examined with a view to solutions of alkyl monoglycosides as well as of glucose and maltose.
authors.affiliation: Drittes Physikalisches Institut, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Friedrich-Hund-Platz 1, 37077 Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Haller
authors.forename: Udo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kaatze
mesh_terms: D006027:Glycosides / Q000737:chemistry*; D007536:Isomerism; D007700:Kinetics; D008823:Micelles; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D014465:Ultrasonics; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D006027:Glycosides; D008823:Micelles; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D014867:Water