Interactions of small molecules with reverse micelles

Reverse micelles, or water-in-oil microemulsions, incorporate a variety of solutes. The distribution of the solute between the surrounding solvent and the micelles can be described in terms of a partition constant based on a two pseudophases model that can be expanded to three pseudophases in micell es with high water to surfactant more ratios. In these systems, two partiti on constants can be defined, one between the external solvent and the micel lar interface, and other between the external solvent and the inner water p ool. The present review describes the methodologies that can be employed to obtain distribution constants, and discuss literature data obtained in the se systems. The localization of solutes associated to the micelles, as well as the effects promoted by solute incorporation on micellar properties are also discussed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.