Studies of model bile solutions using surfactant ion electrodes

Surfactant ion electrode measurements at 25°C show that sodium taurodeoxycholate in water forms small aggregates with little counterion binding. The critical micelle concentration determined with the electrodes agrees closely with that found by other methods. Adding sodium chloride or lecithin enhances formation of these aggregates, although sodium chloride make aggregation more gradual. In contrast, sodium taurocholate aggregates much less except in the presence of lecithin.