Polyoxyethylene oligomer distribution of nonionic surfactants

Abstract

Thin layer chromatography with a flame ionization detection (TLC‐FID) technique was applied to the separation and determination of nonionic surfactants containing oxyethylene (OE) chains. The OE adducts with an average number of 4.2, 6.0 and 8.0 oxyethylene units were separated on Chromarod S‐II (Silica gel‐coated rods) with double development using benzene:ethyl acetate (6:4) and ethyl acetate:acetic acid:water (8:1:1). OE adducts of nonionic surfactants were well separated by the TLC‐FID method using simple and standard techniques that eliminate the need for any chemical modification.

Characterization of alcohol ethoxylates as alcohol ethoxy sulfate derivatives by liquid chromatography‐Mass spectrometry

“…All ethoxymers were uniquely identified by their mass in the negative ion mode, after HPLC separation, with no doubt about the interpretation. a Alfonic 1412-9 is a linear AE of C [12][13][14] with an average EO level of 9 mol (Sasol North America, Austin, TX). SD, standard deviation; for other abbreviations, see Tables 1 and 2.…”

“…Individual pure n-C 12 alcohol, n-C 14 alcohol, n-C 14 EO 1 , n-C 14 EO 2 , n-C 14 EO 8 , n-C 12 EO 1 , n-C 12 EO 2 , n-C 12 EO 3 , n-C 12 EO 4 , n-C 12 EO 6 , and n-C 12 EO 8 samples were purchased from Fluka. Lialet ® 145-3 is an oxo-type AE, C [14][15] , 45% linear and 55% 2-alkyl monobranched isomers with an average EO level of 3 mol, produced by Sasol Italy S.p.A. (Milan, Italy) Alfonic ® 1412-9 is a linear AE, C [12][13][14] with an average EO level of 9 mol, produced by Sasol North America (Austin, TX). Novel TM II 1412-9 (narrow range) is a research sample produced using a proprietary catalyst to give a narrow EO adduct distribution.…”

“…They are produced by the catalytic addition of ethylene oxide (EO) to mixtures of aliphatic alcohols of oleochemical or petrochemical origin and have the general formula C x H 2x+1 O(CH 2 CH 2 O) y H. Commercially available AE are complex mixtures of linear and/or branched alkyl chains with the number of carbons ranging from 6 to 18 and the degree of ethoxylation varying from 1 to >25 mol. Numerous chromatographic methods, such as GC (3,4) supercritical fluid chromatography (5)(6)(7)(8), thin-layer chromatography (9), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) (10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18), HPLC-light-scattering detection (19), HPLC-nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry (20), and capillary electrophoresis (21), have been published for AE characterization. A paper evaluating the efficiency and reliability of different chromatographic techniques was recently published by Trathnigg et al (22).…”

“…Distribution of Alfonic ® 1412-9 by LC-MS. Alfonic 1412-9 is a linear AE, C[12][13][14] with an average EO level of 9 mol (Sasol North America, Austin, TX). For abbreviations seeFigure 1.…”