Fluorescence quenching of Safranine T by inorganic ions in reverse micelles of aerosol-OT in heptane

The fluorescence quenching of Safranine T (ST) by [Fe(CN)6]3−, [Fe(CN)6]4−, Fe2+, Co2+ and Cu2+ was studied in Aerosol orange T (AOT) reverse micelles in n-heptane. The quenching process was exploited to calculate the Stern Volmer quenching constants (KSV) using Stern Volmer equation, the aggregation number of AOT reverse micelles at different ω values. Upon progressive addition of water to ST/AOT/n-heptane solution, the quenching efficiency increases. The results are interpreted in terms of the variations in the microenvironments of ST which depend in a sensitive manner on the water / Surfactant (ω) molar ratio.