Aqueous systems based on organophosphorous compounds in low concentrations: Interconnection of self-organization and biological properties

Abstract

It has been shown for the first time that aqueous solutions of quaternary phosphonium salts (cetyltributylphosphonium bromide, cetyltriphenylphosphonium bromide) in the range of 1 × 10⁻²–1 × 10⁻¹⁸mol/L are disperse systems. The nature of the disperse phase changes as the solution is diluted, starting from micelles (1 × 10⁻⁴–1 × 10⁻²mol/L), translating into molecule-water domains (1 × 10⁻⁶–1 × 10⁻⁴mol/L) and nanoassociates (1 × 10⁻¹⁸–1 × 10⁻⁶mol/L). The effect that these compounds’ solutions have on the growth and development of hydrobionts (infusoria Paramecium caudatum and single-celled algae Chlorella vulgaris) in the low concentrations range has been studied for the first time. It was found that at a concentration less than 1 × 10⁻⁶mol/L the nonmonotonic concentration dependences of the physicochemical properties and bioeffects of the systems are related to the formation and rearrangement of nanoassociates.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Aqueous system
• self-organization
• physicochemical properties
• low concentrations
• toxicity
• hydrocoles

Additional information

Funding

This study was financially supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (project no. 16-03-00076).