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Solubilization of Elemental Sulfur in Water by Cationic and Anionic Surfactants
Author(s) -
Steudel Ralf,
Holdt Gabriele
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition in english
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 0570-0833
DOI - 10.1002/anie.198813581
Subject(s) - pulmonary surfactant , sulfur , cationic polymerization , chemistry , solubilization , solubility , sulfate , aqueous solution , inorganic chemistry , chemical engineering , organic chemistry , biochemistry , engineering
The solubility of S 8 in water is increased by a factor of 5000 when surfactants are added. This is surprising since elemental sulfur is especially hydrophobic and is neither wetted nor dissolved by water. The solubilization of S 8 in aqueous surfactant solutions explains, for example, how sulfur bacteria are able to transport S 8 into the cell, where it is oxidized to sulfate: the bacteria secrete surfactant molecules.