SIMULTANEOUS DETERMINATION OF MICELLAR DISSOCIATION CONCENTRATION AND CRITICAL MICELLAR CONCENTRATION OF BILE SALTS BY pH MEASUREMENTS

Abstract

This paper demonstrates a method of using a pH meter to determine the micellar dissociation concentration (mdc) and the. critical micellar concentration (cmc) of eight bile salt samples: sodium cholate (NaC), sodium deoxycholate (NaDC), sodium glycocholate (NaGC), sodium glycodeoxycholate (NaGDC), sodium glyco-chenodeoxycholate (NaGCDC), sodium taurocholate (NaTC), sodium taurodeoxycholate (NaTDC) and sodium taurochenodeoxycholate (NaTCDC). The experiments were performed by diluting the bile salt solutions with freshly distilled water and following the pH changes with a hydrogen ion electrode at 25°C. One break appears in most of the pH-concentration plots of the bile salt solutions, signifying mdc. However, two breaks appear for NaC and NaDC samples, signifying mdc and cmc. The mdc and cmc values are in good agreement with values determined by surface tension and turbidity methods and with data reported in the literature. The method described in this paper is quick, simple and requiring no sample purification. It is the only method which can be used to determine mdc and cmc simultaneously.