AQUEOUS 2-PHASE SYSTEMS OF THE AQUEOUS MIXTURES OF CATIONIC ANIONIC SURFACTANTS

The aqueous mixtures of cationic-anionic surfactants at relatively hig h concentrations (much higher than CMCs) can separate spontaneously in to two immiscible aqueous phases. The formation conditions, compositio ns, and physicochemical properties of the aqueous two phases have been studied. This phase separation phenomenon is likely due to the coexis tence of different kinds of micelles. It is shown that such systems ma y be taken as partitioning systems to be used in the partitioning and analysis of biomaterials, which is demonstrated by the partitioning of bovine serum albumin (BSA) in aqueous two-phase systems. (C) 1996 Aca demic Press, Inc.