DIRECT DETERMINATION OF ANIONIC SURFACTANTS USING ION CHROMATOGRAPHY

A method for the simultaneous qualitative and quantitative analysis of surfactants in solution via ion chromatography has been developed. This method has the capability of separating linear alkyl anionic surfactants which differ by as little as two carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon chain. In addition, the method can differentiate between surfactants of the same chain length which differ only in the chemical nature of the anionic head group. The ion chromatographic method is much simpler and more accurate than previous techniques of determining surfactant concentration which relied on detecting changes in secondary properties, such as surface tension. The method is also highly flexible and should be applicable to a wide variety of ionic and nonionic surfactants. Use of ion chromatography will greatly simplify studies of surfactant behavior.