The determination of free long-chain quaternary ammonium species with an ion-selective electrode based on a cetyltrimethylammonium ion pair

Quantitative determination of zwitterionic detergents using salt-induced phase separation of Triton X-100

Zwitterionic detergents interfere with the salt-induced phase separation for nonionic detergents in a concentration-dependent manner by shifting the normal cloud point of nonionic detergents to a higher ionic strength at room temperature. This phenomenon was used to determine the concentration of the zwitterionic detergents CHAPS, CHAPSO, and sulfobetaine SB-12 in solution by titration with ammonium sulfate in the presence of Triton X-100. Among the ionic detergents tested, the method was only applicable to sodium cholate. The assay can be used to control the removal of zwitterionic detergents during the reconstitution of membrane proteins in liposomes. However, it cannot be used to determine the specific binding of zwitterionic detergents to highly diluted, pure membrane proteins because of the limited sensitivity. Neither proteins nor phospholipids interfered with this method at concentrations up to 20 mg/ml of test solution (human serum albumin) or 10 mg/ml (phospholipids), respectively. Since the assay is based on the competition between salts and nonionic detergents for water molecules, it is important to equalize the ionic strength of samples and calibration standards.

Generalized theory for two-phase ion-pair and complexometric titrations. I. Two-phase titrations without side reactions

A systematic theoretical treatment of the two-phase titration based on ion-pair and metal-complex formation is presented. Equations for the titration curve, accuracy, equivalence point and choice of the indicator are derived. Much attention is paid to the parameters determining the 'titratability' viz. extraction constant, distribution constant, phase volume ratio and the concentration of the analyte. Special attention is given to the role of intermediate ion-pair and metal-complex formation in the aqueous phase. The ion-pair formation in aqueous solution is examined closer by means of the relationship between the association constant in water, the degree of dissociation of the ion pair (alpha) and the concentration of the counter ion. The merits of this theoretical treatment are illustrated with literature examples.