El MS of nonionic surfactants

Nonionics are the only species of surfactant for which El and Cl are major techniques. The sample may be introduced to the EI/CI source by direct insertion probe, GC or LC via a particle beam interface. 

The El spectra of ethoxylated fatty alcohols contain ions, CH2=0 (CH2CH20),H, H20 (CH2CH20) H and 

El spectra of mixtures of ethoxylated alkylphenols contain a series separated by 44amu corresponding to molecular ions. Examples are presented in Table 12.7. 

These ions can fragment by loss of an alkyl fragment followed by loss of water, or by loss of an alkene. Thus, the spectra contain three series of ions at low mass. 

Alkanolamides. In El diethanolamides give the following ions characteristic of the R groups, [M + 1], RCO, RC0N+(CH2)CH2CH20H, [M-18]- . 

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