The Size, Shape, and Hydration of Nonionic Surfactant Micelles. Triton X-100

Robert J. Robson and Edward A. Dennis
The Journal of Physical Chemistry, Vol. 81, No. 11, 1977

Calculations of the size, shape, and hydration of micelles composed of the nonionic surfactant Triton X-100 were performed based on molecular weight and intrinsic viscosity data. Geometrical considerations show that if the hydrophobic core as well as the whole micelle is spherical, then its structure cannot contain the distinctpolar and apolar regions that are classically assumed for micelles. On the other hand, ellipsoids of revolution would be consistent with a classical micellar structure and an oblate rather than a prolate ellipsoid would be most consistent with intrinsic viscosity measurements and volume calculations.