ABSTRACT

The two main properties of surfactant molecules are micelle formation and adsorption at interfaces. In Micellar Liquid Chromatography (MLC), the micelle formation property is linked to the mobile phase. Micelles play the role of the organic modifier in RPLC. Nonpolar solutes partition themselves between the micelle apolar core and the apolar bonded stationary phase. This partitioning will be the subject of Chapter 5. The surfactant adsorption property is linked to the stationary phase. A significant number of surfactant molecules may adsorb on the stationary phase surface changing its properties. The study of such adsorption and its associated problems is the main subject of this chapter.