The lyotropic liquid crystalline phase behavior of green surfactants such as alkyl glucosides has drawn much attention in recent years due to these compounds' increased commercial availability and industrial applications as non-ionic detergents. Most studies have focused on surfactants in polar solvents such as water, but little research has been done on the aggregates formed in ionic liquids. n-Octyl-�-D-glucoside and n-heptyl-�-D-thioglucoside form aggregates in the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium hexafluorophosphate, including the liquid crystalline hexagonal, cubic, and lamellar phases. The binary phase diagrams of these systems were determined using fluorescence spectroscopy with the dye molecule prodan, a fluorescent probe. The fluorescence spectra of prodan depend upon the polarity of its surroundings, allowing for phases to be determined qualitatively. Phase changes caused by variations in temperature were detected by shifts in the fluorescence spectra the prodan probe. The sensitivity of this technique allowed for detection of both one- and two-phase regions.

Determination of the lyotropic liquid crystalline phases formed by green surfactants in ionic liquids through fluorescence spectroscopy

245th National Meeting (2013)

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