https://doi.org/10.15255/KUI.2007.010
Published: Kem. Ind. 56 (11) (2007) 557–560
Paper reference number: KUI-10/2007
Paper type: Original scientific paper
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Preliminary Testing for Anionic, Cationic and Non-ionic Surfactants Determination

I. Rezić, T. Pušić and L. Bokić

Abstract

Detergents present a major environmental problem due to large quantities of surfactants released from laundries. For this reason, it is important to apply an appropriate analytical method for their determination. In this work, we propose two simple, fast and inexpensive analytical methods for anionic, cationic and non-ionic surfactant determination: thin layer chromatography (TLC) separation for qualitative screening and quantitative potentiometric determination with ion-selective electrodes. These methods have been chosen because of their many advantages: rapidity, ease of operation, low cost of analysis and a wide variety of TLC application possibilities. The advantage of potentiometric titration is its very high degree of automation and very low detection limits obtained with different ion-selective electrodes applied for different surfactants.

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Keywords

surfactants, detergents, potentiometric determination