Characterization of surfactants and their biointermediates by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry

Abstract

To determine complex mixtures of surfactants in both commercial and environmental matrices, semi-specific and insensitive methods based on colorimetry and complexometry are no longer acceptable. Several liquid chromatographic (LC) methods were developed in the past for analyzing surfactants in a variety of matrices. The recent introduction of robust and sensitive interfaces to couple LC to mass spectrometry (MS) has given a new impulse to elaboration of LC–MS methodologies able to identify unequivocally complex mixtures of isomers, oligomers and homologues of surfactants as well as their biodegradation intermediates in environmental samples at trace levels. The actual state-of-the-art in the analysis of the above compounds is reviewed in this paper. Particular attention is paid to those methods involving the two currently most used interfaces, i.e. thermospray and electrospray.