We present a comprehensive review of the literature devoted to the analysis of surfactants. The period covered is 1995 through 1998. We address patents, reviews, books, journal articles, and any conference proceedings abstracted by Chemical Abstract Services. We consider classical, instrumental, and state-of-the-art analytical applications, including those not in common practice but in a developmental stage. We also include analytical techniques that make use of surfactants for improved performance, although such treatment is not comprehensive. Literature from foreign language sources is covered as completely as practical.Paper no. S1234 in JSD 4, 75-83 (January 2001).This is a comprehensive literature review on the analysis of surfactants, presented in two parts. Part I included background, definitions, and a review of publications addressing the analysis of general surfactants and anionic surfactants (1). Part II addresses literature that deals with cationic and nonionic surfactant analysis. As this field is very active, this review is limited to information published in the years 1995 to 1998.
CATIONIC SURFACTANTS ANALYSISThis section reviews the recent literature dedicated to cationic surfactant analysis. Works of broad interest in this area are not widespread in the years this review covers. Only one multidisciplinary study could be found. Wilkes et al. (2) showed that a variety of analytical methods permitted characterization and elucidation of the molecular structure of quaternized triethanolamine esters. The authors also compared the results from the different techniques employed. Cationic surfactants-trace analyses. A cyano-bonded silica stationary phase provided superior separations relative to octadecyl-bonded substrates when investigators studied the separation of acrylamide from the cationic quaternary ammonium monomers dimethylaminoethyl acrylate and dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (3). Several other chromatographic parameters influenced the separation; optimization allowed rapid data acquisition. The reported, optimized method was demonstrated for the detection of residual monomer concentration in an inverse emulsion copolymer.As is the case for other classes of surfactants, water is an important matrix for trace studies of cationic surfactants. A photometric method for the detection of cationic surfactants such as cetylpyridinium chloride, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, and zephiramine utilizes the formation of ternary complexes with Fe(III) (4). The method is simple, rapid, and sensitive. It yields an apparent molar absorptivity of 4.5 × 10 4 L·mol −1 ·cm −1 and a linear range of 0.1-6.0 mmol/L cationic surfactants. The method requires no extractions, and the authors have demonstrated it on water samples. Hellmann (5) discusses the suitability of ultraviolet (UV) and visible light measurements to detect distearylimidazoline ester in waste and surface waters. He discusses measurements of basic spectra, the significance of infrared (IR) spectra from the extraction of samples from water and solids,...