On the formation of calcium(II) taurocholate aggregate species in aqueous solution

The influence of the presence of calcium(II) ions in solutions containing sodium and taurocholate ions at 25 degrees C and in 0.5 mol dm(-3) N(CH(3))(4)Cl as the constant ionic medium was studied. The composition and existence range of aggregates formed by taurocholate sodium and calcium(II) were investigated by means of two different procedures. First, the increasing calcium oxalate solubility due to the presence of taurocholate ions was studied as a function of the taurocholate, sodium and hydrogen ions. The free concentration of sodium and hydrogen ions was determined in solutions equilibrated with solid calcium(II) oxalate. After filtration, the concentration of calcium(II) (by atomic absorption spectrophotometry) and that of oxalate were also determined. In the second approach, electromotive force measurements carried out in solutions containing taurocholate, sodium and calcium(II) ions provided hydrogen and sodium ions free concentrations. The results from both procedures could be explained by assuming the presence of aggregates of different composition with the participation of sodium, calcium(II) and taurocholate ions, depending on the concentration of the reagents. No protonated species were present in appreciable concentrations. All the species found have even anion aggregation numbers. A strong analogy with the composition of sodium taurocholate and glycocholate is observed, while a comparison with sodium deoxycholate, glycodeoxycholate and taurodeoxycholate shows wide differences.