REACTION OF 1,3,5-TRINITROBENZENE WITH HYDROXIDE ION IN CATIONIC AND NONIONIC - MICROEMULSION SYSTEMS

The hydroxylation of trinitrobenzene was investigated using KOH soluti on in microemulsion system which contained either cationic or nonionic surfactants. The reaction was studied in different conditions; temper ature, surfactant and alkali concentrations using stopped-flow spectro fluorimeter. The rate of reaction in cationic surfactant was 100 times more than in nonionic one. The energies of activation were about 142. 40 and 41.40 kJ mol(-1) for reaction in cationic and nonionic surfacta nt respectively. The difference in rate of reaction and energy of acti vation may be attributed to the differences in the electrostatic attra ction force exerted between the surfactants and OH-.