| Abstract: | The polarity of water solubilized in the interior of non‐ionic surfactant reverse micellar systems has been investigated using optical probes. Small amounts of water incorporated on the inside of various reverse micellar systems, polyoxyethylene sorbitan trioleate (Tween‐85)/isopropyl alcohol/n‐hexane mixture and polyoxyethylene tert‐octylphenyl ether (TX‐100)/cyclohexane, were found to have low polarity compared with bulk water. The polarity of water in both Tween‐85 and TX‐100 reverse micellar systems corresponded to that of methanol. The activity of the proteases α‐chymotrypsin and subtilisin in Tween‐85 and TX‐100 reverse micellar systems has also been investigated. It was found that the amounts of water in the reverse micellar system have a significant influence on the activity of enzymes. In the TX‐100 reverse micellar system, neither enzymes showed any activity. In contrast, the activity of enzymes in the Tween‐85 reverse micellar system was similar to that in the aqueous system and followed standard Michaelis–Menten kinetics. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry |
