DETERMINATION OF NONIONIC TENSIDES IN WATER AND WASTE-WATER BY X-RAY-FLUORESCENCE ANALYSIS AND IR-SPECTROSCOPY

A pure n-tenside fraction can be obtained from water samples by a two-step preliminary separation process (blowing out, and adsorption-chromatography or re-precipitation). On principle, the precipitation of n-tensides with the aid of Dragendorff s reagent may be followed by a potentiometric determination of the bismuth used. On the other hand, X-Ray fluorescence analysis takes less time and is more simple in application. However, absolutely reliable values in difficult cases can be obtained only by IR-spectroscopy. The detection limit of the IR method is around 0.05 mg per preparation, that of the X-Ray fluorescence analysis around 0.01 mg. © 1979 Springer-Verlag.