Relationships between micelle-water and octanol-water partition constants for hydrophobic organics of environmental interest

The partition constants between micelles of sodium dodecyl sulfate and water for eleven hydrophobic non-polar organics of environmental interest were correlated to their octanol-water partition constants, aqueous solubilities and total molecular surface areas. Octanol-water partition constant was found to be the best correlating parameter. Values of partition constants for micelles formed of dodecylbenzenesulfonate and hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide surfactants were also correlated to the octanol-water partition constants. A possible practical application of the K m− K ow correlation to determine the micellar-mediated transport of hydrophobic organics in ground-water is illustrated.