Critical micelle concentration (cmc) values have been determined for the mixed zwitterionic/anionic surfactant systems of N-dodecyl-N,N-dimethyl-3-ammonio-1-propanesulfonate (ZW3-12)/sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), N-dodecyl-N,N-(dimethylammonio)butyrate (DDMAB)/SDS,N-octyl-N,N-dimethyl-3-ammonio-1-propanesulfonate (ZW3-08)/sodium octyl sulfate (SOS), and the zwitterionic/cationic systems of ZW3-12/dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB), DDMAB/DTAB. Conductivity studies and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy were the methods employed for cmc determinations. The degree of nonideality of the interaction in the micelle (beta(m)), for each system, was determined according to Rubingh's nonideal solution theory. Evidence was found for the existence of strong interactions between zwitterionic and anionic surfactants in each of the zwitterionic/anionic systems. The ZW3-08/SOS and DDMAB/SDS systems behaved synergistically at all mole fractions studied while the ZW3-12/SDS system exhibited synergistic behavior above mole fractions of 0.30. Greater negative deviations from ideal behavior were demonstrated in the DDMAB/SDS system than in the other two zwitterionic/anionic systems. The zvvitterionic/cationic systems of ZW3-12/DTAB and ZW3-08/OTAB displayed only slight deviations from ideal behavior, therefore indicating near ideal mixing. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.