Stability of surfactant systems

Hamburger et al. [148] cite other work in which they believe that autoxidation of the non-ionic surfactant has given rise to deterioration, giving examples of discoloration of certified dyes, and chloramphenicol decomposition in the presence of polyglycols. Thus reaction kinetics in the presence of non-ionic surfactants liable to decomposition must be interpreted with care. 

The pitfalls in the use of commercial non-ionic surfactants in biochemical work 

Surfactant Sample Solubility at 20% (w/v) pH Acidity (mEqg- ) Peroxide number (mEqkg- ) Cloud Point yi% (mNm ) 

Emulphogene BC-720 Lubrol PX Lubrol PX (purified) 11 Lubrol WX1 Renex 30 Triton X-100 Triton X-100  

I These products contain the antioxidant t-butylated hydro-xytoluene (0.01 %) and 0.005 % citric acid. 

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