Transfer and distribution of L-tryptophan between W/O and O/W, and between W/O and bicontinuous microemulsions through the study of interphase electric properties

The influence of L-tryptophan (L-Trp) on the interphase electric properties of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)/n-pentanol (n-C5H11OH)/water (H2O) system was studied by the method of AC impedance, and the distribution of L-Trp between the microemulsion phases with different structures in SDS/n-C5H11OH/H2O system was determined by UV–vis spectroscopy. The results show that L-Trp transfers from the lower phase (O/W or bicontinuous) to the upper phase (W/O), and that a small amount of SDS transfers from the upper phase to the lower phase correspondingly with the increase of the total SDS content at a constant weight ratio of n-C5H11OH/H2O = 50/50 and a total L-Trp concentration of 1.0×10−4 mol/L1.0×10−4 mol/L. In addition, the concentrations of L-Trp in both the upper and lower phases increase, but the SDS content decreases slightly in the upper phase and increases appreciably in the lower phase with the increase of the total L-Trp concentration at a constant total content of SDS. The interphase capacitance and the interphase charge-transfer current of the system increase, but the interphase resistivity decreases.

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