Evidence for compartmentalization of reagents in w/o microemulsions

The effect of AOT-based microemulsions on the reaction between crystal violet and sulphite ion has been studied. On addition of a crystal violet–sulphite (colourless) mixture to AOT-microemulsions, the equilibrium is completely displaced to the reagents (deep blue) while the reaction of crystal violet and sulphite to form a colourless compound is completely inhibited in this medium. This behaviour is an irrefutable evidence of the existence of three well-differentiated microenvironments in the AOT-based microemulsions, even at very low water contents.