Spectroscopic investigations in molecularly organized solvent media. Part 3. Examination of the nitromethane selective quenching rule in aqueous anionic + cationic and anionic + nonionic mixed surfactant solutions

Applicability of the nitromethane selective quenching rule for discriminating between alternant versus nonalternant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is examined for 20 representative PAH solutes dissolved in micellar sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) + cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), SDS + dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB), SDS + Brij-35, and SDS + sodium octanoate (SO) mixed surfactant solvent media. Experimental results show that nitromethane quenched fluorescence of all 8 alternant PAHs studied in the four different solvent systems. Unexpected quenching behavior was observed, however, in the case of nonalternant PAHs. Nitromethane quenched fluorescence emission of nonalternant PAHs dissolved in the SDS + SO solvent media, which is contrary to the selective quenching rule. In the case of the mixed anionic + cationic surfactant solvent media, nitromethane quenching selectivity was restored at concentration ratios of approximately 4 : 1 (anionic:cationic) or less. Received: 22 May 1997 / Revised: 29 September 1997 / Accepted: 3 October 1997