AGGREGATION STUDIES IN THE SYSTEM WATER - SODIUM OCTANOATE - BUTANOL

The L-phase of the three-component system water - sodium octanoate - b utanol extends over a large composition range. It is well known that m icellar aggregates exist in the water rich part (the L(1) part) and in verse micellar aggregates in the butanol rich part (the L(2) part). Th e mechanism for the change from a continuous water medium to a continu ous butanol medium in the middle part is of fundamental interest. The properties of the L-phase were studied by density, refractive index, u ltracentrifugation, electromotive force and conductivity measurements. This investigation indicates in which regions aggregation occurs as w ell as the changes in aggregate and medium structure which take place with increased butanol concentration.