Abstract: The quenching of pyrene fluorescence in the micellization process of alkyltriphenylphosphonium bromide and N-alkylpyridinium bromide is described. It is found that the fluorescence quenching obeys the Stern-Volmer equation, the surfactant with a longer alkyl chain has a larger quenching constant before the formation of micelle, and the quenching constant before the formation of micelle is lower than that after the formation. Ajump is noted in the Stern-Volmer curve before and after the formation of micelle and the critical micelle concentrations of the studied surfactants accordingly obtained are consistent with the reported values. The preferential configuration of surfactant molecule in aqueous solution and the solubilization position of pyrene in micelle are discussed. Also included is a brief discussion of the mechanism of micelle enhancement of luminescence analysis.

Key words: Micellization process, Fluorescence quenching, Luminescence enhancement mechanism