Alcohol ethoxylates environmental analysis

The trend of discovering the analytical field of environmental analysis of surfactants by LC-MS is described in detail in Chapters 2.6-2.13 and also reflected by the method collection in Chapter 3.1 (Table 3.1.1), which gives an overview on analytical determinations of surfactants in aqueous matrices. Most methods have focused on high volume surfactants and their metabolites, such as the alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEO, Chapter 2.6), linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS, Chapter 2.10) and alcohol ethoxylates (AE, Chapter 2.9). Surfactants with lower consumption rates such as the cationics (Chapter 2.12) and esterquats (Chapter 2.13) or the fluorinated surfactants perfluoro alkane sulfonates (PFAS) and perfluoro alkane carboxylates (PFAC) used in fire fighting foams (Chapter 2.11) are also covered in this book, but have received less attention. 

The quantitative environmental analysis of surfactants, such as alcohol ethoxylates, alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEOs) and linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LASs), is complicated by the presence of a multitude of isomers and oligomers in the source mixtures (see Chapter 2). This issue bears many similarities to the quantitation problems that have occurred with halogenated aromatic compound mixtures, e.g. polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) [1]. 

Phthalic anhydride 225 has been used in the environmental analysis of alcohol ethoxylates, which are widely found surfactants. Samples are derivatized with phthalic anhydride converting the ethoxylates into phthalate half-esters. Under analysis by electrospray LCMS, the derivatized alcohols gave stronger signals with less background in the negative ion spectra <2005JCH39>. 

Chem. Descrip. Ethoxylated oleocetylic alcohol Ionic Natum Nonionic Chem. Analysis 0.5% max. moisture Uses Emulsifier for min. and nat. oils Features Low foam effective in water-sol. metalworking fluids Properties Gardner 3 max. limpid liq. f.p. 7 C max. acid no. 1 max. hyd. no. 110-130 cloud pt. 69-73 C pH (10% aq.) 6.0-7.5 Environmental SI. danger to water Storage 2 yr. shelf life store < 50 C Simulsol OL 50 [Seppic]... 

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