Sensitive Determination of Anionic Surfactants in Water with Trans-4-[4′-(N-methyl-N-hydroxylethylamino)-cinnamyl-N-9-(4′-(2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine))-phenylmethylene]pyridine Bromide by the Light-Absorption Ratio Variation Approach

Abstract

The light-absorption ratio variation approach was described and applied to the determination of anionic surfactants (AS) in water with a novel chromophore, trans 4-[4'-(N-methyl-N-hydroxylethylamino)-cinnamyl-N-9-(4'-(2,2':6',2''-terpyridine))-phenylmethylene]pyridine bromide (BTMHCTPP). The complexations between BTMHCTPP and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS) at pH 3.85 were characterized by the break point approach. Results have shown that both 1BTMHCTPP:1SDS and 1BTMHCTPP:1SDBS complexes were formed, and that deltaA(r) (deltaA(r) = light-absorption ratio variation) is linear for the range of AS between 0.05 and 1.00 mg/L. The limits of detection (3sigma) are 0.045 mg/L for SDS and 0.040 mg/L for SDBS. The complexation is selective in the presence of EDTA, and it has been applied to the analysis of water samples with satisfactory results.