Analysis of Cationic Surfactants in Household Products by High Performance Liquid Chromatography with Nitrogen Chemiluminescence Detection

Abstract

Abstract For compounds containing less than 10% (wt./wt.) nitrogen, the sensivity of nitrogen chemiluminescence detection is limited to concentrations of greater than 0.1 mg/mL under typical operating conditions. For determinations of nitrogen containing surfactants in household products, such sensitivity is not prohibitive due to the high levels of surfactant added to the formulations and is potentially offset by the advantage of the detector's specificity towards nitrogen containing compounds. Lauryl/myristyl monoethanolamide is detected without interfence in a variety of dishwashing liquids and n-methyl glucosamides are detected in liquid laundry detergents. Replicate injections of a single dishwashing liquid preparation indicate a quantitative reproducibility of 8% rsd for lauryl/myristyl monoethanolamide. Performance comparable to HPLC with UV detection has been achieved for methyl neodecanamide in an all purpose cleaner.