Fate studies of the non-ionic surfactant alkyl glucamide by liquid chromatography/electrospray mass spectrometry

Abstract

Alkyl glucamides (AGs) were analyzed by reversed‐phase liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization (ESMS). Analytes were separated according to the chain length of two homologs, C12‐ and C14‐glucamide. Mass spectrometric detection in the positive ion mode exhibited higher overall sensitivity where, apart from fragments, different molecular and quasi‐molecular ions were obtained. However, application of the negative ion mode offered advantages in terms of reproducibility and extent of information when analyzing environmental samples. Therefore, a simple and sensitive analytical methodology was developed for the determination of AGs in municipal sewage treatment plant influent and effluent based on solid‐phase enrichment, LC separation and negative ion ESMS quantification. After preconcentration of 100 ml of aqueous sample, the recoveries using polymeric LiChrolut EN cartridges exceeded 89%. A quantification limit of 0.1 µg l−1 was achieved. Studies on the biodegradability and metabolic pathway of C10‐glucamide were carried out on a laboratory‐scale microbial test unit under aerobic conditions. A postulated metabolism including ω‐oxidation of the alkyl chain followed by subsequent β‐oxidations was checked by LC/ESMS. Identification and formation of ‘C4‐glucamide acid’ as a degradation intermediate was confirmed by mass spectrometric studies. Higher homolog acids such as C10‐, C8‐ and C6‐glucamide acids, which should be predicted precursors of C4‐glucamide acid, and any other metabolites, were not detectable, presumably owing to rapid breakdown. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Phase behavior studies of quaternary systems containing N-lauroyl-N-methylglucamide/alcohol/alkane/water

“…Then the corresponding ε B and ε E values were calculated by Eq. (9). The values of β B , β E , ε B and ε E are all listed in Table 1.…”

“…In recent years, much attention has been paid to the nonionic green surfactants N -acyl-N -alkylglucamides (NAGAs), due to their compatibility, relatively low toxicity, minimal environmental impact, and synergistic effects when combined with other surfactants [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. These surfactants can be synthesized from carbohydrate raw materials: sucrose, glucose, and sorbitol, which are available on the world market in large quantities and at competitive prices [11][12][13][14].…”

“…These surfactants can be synthesized from carbohydrate raw materials: sucrose, glucose, and sorbitol, which are available on the world market in large quantities and at competitive prices [11][12][13][14]. Therefore, NAGAs will be a kind of the most prospective surfactants in the 21st century [15].…”

Aerobic Biodegradation Studies of Nonylphenol Ethoxylates in River Water Using Liquid Chromatography−Electrospray Tandem Mass Spectrometry

“…LC-ES-MS and LC-ES-MS/MS were applied to clarify identity and routes of formation of metabolites (20)(21)(22).…”

Middle-Phase Microemulsions Formed byn-Dodecyl Polyglucoside and Lauric-N-methylglucamide

“…These surfactants can be synthesized from carbohydrate raw materials, which are available on the world market in large quantities and competitive prices: sucrose, glucose and sorbitol. [1][2][3][4] Therefore, they will be one of the most prospective surfactants in the twenty-first century. [5] Alkyl glucosides were first synthesized and identified more than 100 years ago, however, their production was not carried on until the beginning of the 1980s for their use in application in the cosmetics and detergent industries.…”