Thermodynamic Association Behaviors of Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS) with Poly(4-vinylpyridine N-oxide) (PVPNO) at Different pH Values and Ionic Strengths

The interaction of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) with poly(4-vinylpyridine N-oxide) (PVPNO) at different pH values and ionic strengths has been studied by isothermal titration microcalorimetry, electrical conductivity and turbidity measurements. The solution pH significantly effects the formation of the PVPNO/SDS complex. At pH 1.5, the polymer PVPNO is a strong polycation, and the binding is dominated by electrostatic 1:1 charge neutralization with the anionic surfactant. At pH 6 and 8, the electrostatic attraction between SDS and PVPNO is weak, and the hydrophobic interaction becomes stronger. The effect of salt concentration on the interaction of SDS and PVPNO depends on the competition between the increase of interaction and the screening of interaction. This study based on the thermodynamic process gained deep insight into the effects of pH value and ionic strength on the interaction mechanism of surfactant with polyelectrolyte. We also constructed a simple model for the interaction of PVPNO and SDS system in different solution regions.