Phase behavior in sodium cholate/calcium chloride mixtures

Abstract

Phase behavior of sodium cholate/calcium chloride mixture strongly depends on both molar ratio and actual concentration of each component. Phase diagram exhibits precipitation regions where mixture of several kinds of solid crystalline and liquid crystalline phase coexist and regions where micelles are formed. Considerable variation of properties is caused by different arrangements of cholate anions which are able to self-organize in molecular structure and supramolecular aggregates due to their amphiphillic character. Solubility, hydrophilicy and aggregation behavior are regulated by the carboxylic group via protonation/deprotonation processes that result in the formation of insoluble and soluble salts.