The solubilization of a hydrocarbon and two alcohols in a non-aqueous lamellar liquid crystal of lecithin and ethylene glycol was investigated determining the phase region of the liquid crystal and the geometrical dimension of the latter by low angle X-ray diffractometry. The results indicated the solubilized molecules to be located both in the polar solvent between the lecithin layers in the liquid crystal and between the individual molecules. The hydrocarbon was mainly localized between the hydrophobic end surfaces of the amphiphile and the methanol showed a balanced partition. The solubilization of long chain alcohols caused a reduction of the interlayer distance presumably due to enhanced penetration of the ethylene glycol after solubilization of the alcohol.

Peer reviewed