The rational use of micelles in quantitative structure-activity and quantitative structure-permeation relationships implies a good knowledge of the nature of recognition forces underlying solute-micelle association. The aims of this study were to unravel the intermolecular interaction forces responsible for the association of neutral and ionised compounds with negatively charged sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelles, using micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC). The MEKC capacity factors (log k(MEKC)) of 36 neutral model solutes were analysed by linear solvation free-energy relationships (LSERs). The results indicate that the size and H-bond acceptor strength of solutes are mainly responsible for their MEKC retention. Compared to n-octanol, the SDS micelles are more cohesive and stronger H-bond donors. Strong attractive electrostatic interactions govern solute-micelle association for positively charged compounds and micelles of the opposite charge, whereas repulsive electrostatic interactions occur between negatively charged solutes and micelles of the same charge. The capacity factors measured for the ionised forms of the acids and bases under study (log k(MEKC)(I)) indeed lie on two distinct plateau, about -1.0 for the former and about 2.0 for the latter and depend on the solute's charge more than on its chemical structure. Thus, the derivation of a diff(log k(MEKC)(N-I)) value, defined as the difference between the log k(MEKC) values of the neutral and charged species, strongly correlates with the respective log k(MEKC)(N) value and does not afford additional information.