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Alcohol ethoxylates (AEs) are a significant component of a stream of surfactants directed to the aquatic environment. The aim of this work was the investigation of the dependence of the analytical signals of homogeneous AE homologues on liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry conditions, as well as the separation of AEs from the water matrix and, on this basis, the development of an analytical procedure suitable for the determination of AEs in environmental samples. Homogeneous homologues containing dodecyl moiety and 2-9 oxyethylene subunits were investigated. The analytical signals of the investigated homologues were optimized in terms of concentration of ammonium acetate in the mobile phase (optimum 5 mM) and a column temperature (optimum 35°C) of the liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry system. A separation of AEs from the water matrix by liquid-liquid extraction (ethyl acetate, chloroform) or solid-phase extraction (C18 , styrene divinylbenzene, H-RX) was investigated. In a model investigation, the best recoveries (>90%) were obtained with a styrene divinylbenzene cartridge eluted with a 1:1 mixture of chloroform and methanol. However, much worse recoveries were obtained from the river water sample. Better results were obtained for liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate. Recoveries of 62-80% were obtained for homologues having 4-9 oxyethylene subunits, at the lowest spike.

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Information concerning the use of non-ionic surfactants (NS) in household products is very scanty. Therefore, a qualitative determination of NS in raw sewage is an alternative source of information concerning the presence and manufacture of NS. The aim of this work was to identify NS in raw sewage (in Poznan and Blonie, both Poland) and treated sewage (in Blonie) and to compare the results with those obtained for river water (Warta in Poznan, Poland). LC-MS/MS was used for this purpose. The presence of 116 ethoxamers, being exclusively polydispersal alcohol ethoxylates (AE) containing alkyl moieties from C10 to C16 and C18, as well as 20 poly(ethylene glycols), was confirmed in the raw sewage, while 68 ethoxamers were found in the treated sewage, including 12 octylphenol ethoxylates. No nonylphenol ethoxylates were identified in the raw or treated sewage.