Determination of dialkyldimethylammonium surfactants in consumer products and aqueous environmental samples using the mixed micelle-based methodology

The determination of dialkyldimethylammonium surfactants (DDAS) based on the measurement of the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of mixed sodium dodecylsulphate (SDS)-DDAS aggregates in a basic medium ([NaOH]=4.8x10(-3) M) is proposed. The dye Coomassie Brilliant Blue G (CBBG) was used as a photometric probe for the rapid determination of CMCs. Formation of CBBG-DDAS and DDAS-SDS premicellar aggregates of well-defined stoichiometrics at cationic and anionic surfactant concentrations far below their CMCs is demonstrated. Increased SDS concentration in the titration medium results in the formation of DDAS-SDS mixed micelles. The strong interaction between the opposite charged head group of DDAS and SDS permits these cationic surfactants to be determined at the ng ml(-1) level with a nearly uniform response for all the DDAS tested (12-18 alkyl carbons). The relative standard deviation for 1.10 mug ml(-1) ditetradecyldimethylammonium bromide (DTDAB) was 1.5%. The mixed-micelle based methodology was applied to the determination of DDAS in softeners and aqueous environmental samples (river water and laundry effluents) with average recoveries ranged from 87.1 to 100.6 and from 96.3 to 104.0, respectively.