EFFECT OF THE CONCENTRATION OF DODMAC AND 1-DECANOL ON THE BEHAVIOR OF REVERSE MICELLES IN THE EXTRACTION OF AMINO-ACIDS

The concentrations of dioctyldimethyl ammonium chloride (DODMAC) and 1 -decanol in isooctane needed to form reverse micelles by phase contact have been determined. The behavior of these reverse micelles in the e xtraction of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and threonine was studied b y analyzing all of the ionic species in the aqueous phase. The amino a cid is extracted from the aqueous phase by exchanging with the Cl- cou nterions of DODMAC in the reverse micelles. The ionic species in the r everse micelles tend toward their undissociated states as the water up take by the reverse micelles decreases. The effect of 1-decanol on the extraction of the amino acids with two negative charges is due to the change in the water uptake of the reverse micelles. The concentration of DODMAC has no effect on the ion exchange of the amino acid with on e negative charge with the Cl- counterions of DODMAC in the reverse mi celles. Higher molar ratios of decanol to DODMAC favor the selective s eparation of amino acids with different charge numbers. (C) 1995 John Wiley and Sons, Inc.