Solubilization of Elemental Sulfur in Water by Cationic and Anionic Surfactants

Abstract

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.