Analysis of non-ionic surfactants of the alkylphenol type in the presence of mineral oil by means of liquid chromatography

✍ Scribed by M. Krejčí; M. Roudná; Z. Vavrouch

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1974
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 585 KB
• Volume: 91
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1873-3778
• DOI: 10.1016/s0021-9673(01)97938-5

✦ Synopsis

A method has been developed for the determination of trace amounts of nonionic surfactants of the alkylphenol type and mineral oil in waste waters. The separation of different Arkopals, p-C H s l,*CoH.,~O~(CH,~CH,O)nH, according to the number of ethylene oxide units by liquid-liquid chromatography is described. The procedures were elaborated for the discrimination of oil and surfactant components in the sample. Selective detection of both components in the UV region (254 and 285 nm) was used. UV and IR spectra of the surfactants are shown.

An enrichment procedure using a pre-column packed with Porapak Q was tested. Water, in which trace amounts of Arkopal and oil were to be determined, functioned as a very weak mobile phase in the pre-column.

After completion of the enrichment procedure, n-hexane was used as a strong mobile phase with simultaneous pre-column heating. Enrichment factors of up to loo were determined, which enabled the components at concentrations down to the parts per million level to be determiried. The error of the determinations was calculated.