The analysis of alkyl aryl sulfonates by micro desulfonation and gas chromatography

Abstract

The structural analysis of micro quantities of alkyl aryl sulfonates by presently known chemical and spectroscopic techniques has been an exceedingly difficult task. The formidable nature of such analyses is due largely to the essential nonvolatility of the sulfonates, a fact which precludes the application of gas‐liquid chromatography and mass spectrometric techniques. The present paper describes an approach wherein gas chromatography is made applicable to analysis of micro quantities of sulfonates. The key to the approach is a microchemical desulfonation procedure. This process yields the parent hydrocarbon, which is volatile and hence amenable to analysis by gas‐liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry.

Environmental monitoring for linear alkylbenzene sulfonates, dialkyltetralin sulfonates and their biodegradation intermediates

“…Desulfonation techniques have been used for the analysis of LAS in surfactant mixtures [4], in environmental samples [5,6], and for LASI in microcosm studies [7]. Methyl sulfonate derivatives of LAS have been prepared by reaction with diazomethane [8] and by formation of the acid chloride with phosphoros pentachloride followed by reaction with methanol in a sealed ampoule [9].…”

“…(g/L) concentrations of LAS, LAS biodegradation intermediates (LASI), DATS, and DATS biodegradation intermediates (DATSI) in environmental samples. The earlier desulfonation, derivatization, and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods did not have the necessary selectivity and sensitivity [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]. This new methodology was used to measure LAS, LASI, DATS, and DATSI in samples of 10 of the 50 sites evaluated in the McAvoy et al [3] study.…”

Detailed Characterization of Petroleum Sulfonates by Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry

“…Considering this idea, the analysis of these samples is not trivial, and no research has been carried out in this area recently . Anionic surfactants, including petroleum sulfonates, are usually detected, quantified, and characterized using chromatographic methodologies , and spectroscopic analyses [ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)] but without a thoughtful structural characterization of their active matter (AM) molecules. Traditionally, petroleum sulfonate analysis consists of a combination of ASTM D855-56, ASTM D3712-05, and cationic titration methods to develop a rapid and precise process for the analysis with respect to molecular weight and sulfonate content. , Briefly, the sample is dissolved in ethyl ether and converted to sulfonic acid using dilute hydrochloric acid.…”

Composition to Interfacial Activity Relationship Approach of Petroleum Sulfonates by Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry

“…Anionic surfactants, including petroleum sulfonates, are usually detected, quantified, and characterized using chromatographic methodologies , and spectroscopic analyses [ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)] . These characterizations combined with cationic titration methods − assume the active ingredients of petroleum sulfonates as compounds with the general formula R–SO 3 Na, where R is a naphthenic aromatic nucleus bearing different alkyl side chains; however, as a result of the wide diversity of the molecules contained in petroleum, such a definition is inadequate.…”