Mixed micellization and mixed micelle-mediated solubilization and co-solubilization of naphthalene and pyrene

• Brij 30+DDEAB behaves as superior solubilising media for both the PAHs studied. • Pyrene shows Synergetic solubilization in presence of naphthalene in Brij 30+SDS. • Inhibition of pyrene solubility in mixed micelles during co-solubilization was observed. • In all the mixed micelles solubility of naphthalene was reduced in presence of pyrene. Solubility enhancements of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been examined in varied surfactant architectures. The study aims to explore the solubilization and co-solubilization abilities of equimolar binary combinations of two series of surfactant micelles, viz., C 12 and C 16 , towards PAHs (naphthalene and pyrene). The effectiveness of these binary mixtures and their comparison with single systems in solubilizing and co-solubilizing PAHs has been measured using parameters such as MSR, micelle-water partition coefficient, deviation in MSR, relative solubilization ratio and free energy of solubilization. Naphthalene possesses the highest solubility in all the studied surfactant systems. Brij30+DEEAB behaves as superior solubilizing media for both the PAHs during single solute solubilization. During co-solubilization, an inhibition in solubility of naphthalene in all the studied micellar systems, while as a reduction in solubility of pyrene in Brij 30+DDEAB, and Brij 56+CTAB systems were observed. On the other hand, in CTAB, DDEAB, SDS , and Brij 30+SDS systems, a synergistic impact on the solubilization of pyrene has been noted. Mixed micelles facilitate microbial remediation of PAHs at faster rates by influencing their accessibility to microorganisms at contaminated sites, thereby reducing the amount of surfactant used and consequently lowers the cost of remediation.