Surfactant Levels Research Articles

Mixed Micelle Formation and Solubilization Behavior toward Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons of Binary and Ternary Cationic−Nonionic Surfactant Mixtures

Water solubility enhancements of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), viz., naphthalene, anthracene and pyrene, by micellar solutions at 25 degrees C using two series of surfactants, each involving two cationic and one nonionic surfactant in their single as well as equimolar binary and ternary mixed states, were measured and compared. The first series was composed of three surfactants, benzylhexadecyldimethylammonium chloride (C16BzCl), hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (C16Br), and polyoxyethylene(20)mono-n-hexadecyl ether (Brij-58) with a 16-carbon (C16) hydrophobic chain; the second series consisted of dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (C12Br), dodecylethyldimethylammonium bromide (C12EBr), and polyoxyethylene(4)mono-n-dodecyl ether (Brij-30) with a 12-carbon (C12) chain. Solubilization capacity has been quantified in terms of the molar solubilization ratio, the micelle-water partition coefficient, the first stepwise association constant between solubilizate monomer and vacant micelle, and the average number of solubilizate molecules per micelle, determined employing spectrophoto-, tensio-, and flourimetric techniques. Cationic surfactants exhibited lesser solubilization capacity than nonionics in each series of surfactants with higher efficiency in the C16 series compared to the C12 series. Increase in hydrophobicity of head groups of cationics by incorporation of ethyl or benzyl groups enhanced their solubilization capacity. The mixing effect of surfactants on mixed micelle formation and solubilization efficiency has been discussed in light of the regular solution approximation (RSA). Cationic-nonionic binary combinations showed better solubilization capacity than pure cationics, nonionics, or cationic-cationic mixtures, which, in general, showed increase with increased hydrophobicity of PAHs. Equimolar cationic-cationic-nonionic ternary surfactant systems showed lower solubilization efficiency than their binary cationic-nonionic counterparts but higher than cationic-cationic ones. In addition, use of RSA has been extended, with fair success, to predict partition coefficients of ternary surfactant systems using data of binary surfactants systems. Mixed surfactants may improve the performance of surfactant-enhanced remediation of soils and sediments by decreasing the applied surfactant level and thus remediation cost.

Sensitive Potentiometric Method for Determination of Micromolar Level of Polyethoxylated Nonionic Surfactants in Effluents

Abstract The Metrohm NIO surfactant electrode has been used as end-point indicator for potentiometric titration of low concentration level of polyethoxylated nonionic surfactants. This can be achieved by using of a diluted titrant concentration, thus reducing the amount of precipitate formed during titration and preventing the electrode deterioration. The solutions of low levels (down to 10−6 mol/L) of selected nonionic surfactants containing 5 to 23 EO groups were successfully titrated with diluted (as low as 10−4 mol/L) sodium tetraphenylborate as standard anionic titrant, increasing up to 20 times the sensitivity of the method. The low surfactant concentration has been determined in synthetic formulations of widely used detergent products and industrial waste waters. The titration end-point has been determined by applying extended Savitzky-Golay least-squares regression. The accuracy and precision has been evaluated by using the standard addition method. Relative standard deviation within results was between 3.4 and 12.8 % depending on the sample complexity and the surfactant concentration level.

Membranous Nephropathy and Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis

A 47-year-old woman with a severe cough and high-grade fever demonstrated proteinuria of 3.2 g/day. Chest radiograph and CT scan revealed scattered small nodules and ground-glass opacities with interlobular septal thickening in both lungs. The serum levels of surfactant A, surfactant D, and KL-6 were increased to 190 ng/ml (normal: 0-43.8), 360 ng/ml (normal: 0-110), and 4850 U/ml (normal: 0-500), respectively. Video-assisted thoracoscopic lung biopsy revealed eosinophilic amorphous material within alveoli and thickened alveolar septa, which is compatible with pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. Kidney biopsy exhibited membranous nephropathy (Stage I-II) accompanied by granular IgG deposition along the glomerular basement membrane. Although the patient refused treatment with granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) for pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, her proteinuria and the pulmonary lesion gradually diminished and disappeared after one year.

Drainage of foam films stabilized with mixtures of non-ionic surfactants

The drainage of single foam films stabilized with a mixture of the non-ionic surfactants n-dodecyl-β- d-maltoside (β-C 12G 2) and hexaethyleneglycol monododecyl ether (C 12E 6) was studied at two different mixing ratios (β-C 12G 2:C 12E 6 = 1:1 and 50:1) as a function of the electrolyte and the total surfactant concentration, respectively. The electrolyte concentration was varied from 10 −3 to 10 −1 M NaCl and the total surfactant concentration ranged from 0.01 to 10 CMC. Moreover, the influence which the film radius has on the drainage of the foam films was investigated. From the h (film thickness) versus t (time) dependence the values of the drainage coefficients ( α) were determined for all films according to the equation derived by Manev et al. [E. Manev, R. Tsekov, B. Radoev, J. Disper. Sci. Tech. 18 (1997) 769]. It was found that the drainage of these foam films is generally in line with the theory. First, at concentrations below the CMC the value of α decreases with an increase in the total surfactant concentration and levels off at C surf ∼ CMC in all cases except one. Second, increasing the ionic strength increases the rate of drainage at C surf < CMC, while it does not significantly affect α at C surf = CMC of the respective solution. Last but not least, films of smaller radius drain faster regardless of their composition. However, the results obtained for the 1:1 and the 50:1 mixture differ quantitatively. These differences are discussed and some of the results are compared with those obtained for the pure surfactants.

Sediment toxicity tests involving immobilized microalgae ( Phaeodactylum tricornutum Bohlin)

Populations of calcium-alginate immobilized marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum were exposed to two sediments containing different levels of surfactant (LAS). Toxic responses were compared for free and immobilized algae. Although there is a direct relation between LAS content in sediment and inhibition, immobilized algae suffered less inhibition than free cells, over all when fluorescence is chosen as a biomarker for biomass. When cells are counted from dissolved beads, inhibition of growth is closer to the values found for free cells. Immobilization can be useful for in situ experiments but protection of cells inside the alginate beads against toxic capacity of xenobiotics must be taken into account.

A Clinical Study on the Tolerability of a Liposomal Povidone-Iodine Nasal Spray: Implications for Further Development

Purpose of Study: This phase I study assessed tolerability and local effect of a liposome dispersion with povidone-iodine (polyvinylpyrrolidone-iodine, PVP-I) as nasal spray. Procedures: Three groups received liposomal dispersion with PVP-I (2.2, 4.4 and 0% as control) in single and repeated use (3 days, three times a day). A set of functional and cytological tests as well as safety assessments were performed. Results: No safety-relevant finding or serious adverse events were reported, no evidence for cyto- nor genotoxicity obtained. No clinically relevant changes in mucosa appearance, nor in olfactory sense, nor in ciliary activity (sensitive indicator of local tolerance) occurred and no complaints about nasal airflow obstruction were observed. All liposomal formulations had a positive effect on the nasal mucosa, challenged by allergy in some volunteers. Conclusions and Message: Application of liposomal PVP-I spray to the nasal mucosa does not result in any demonstrable limitation of the nasal function nor in detectable damage to the multilayer ciliated epithelium of the nose. Improvement of various parameters of nasal function under liposomal PVP-I suggest improved mucociliary clearance. Explanation could be humidification, improved surfactant (phospholipid) level and/or sufficient mucolytic activity of iodide due to local application of the constituents.

Copolimerização em emulsão de acetato de vinila e acrilato de butila com alto teor de sólidos

Neste trabalho foi investigada a influência da concentração de uma mistura dos emulsificantes nonilfenol etoxilado e sulfato sódico de nonilfenol etoxilado (não iônico e iônico, respectivamente) e concentração de protetor coloidal, poli (álcool vinílico) na estabilidade coloidal de látices do copolímero acetato de vinila (AV)/acrilato de butila (AB) com alto teor de sólidos. Foram determinados o teor de sólidos e o tamanho médio das partículas ao longo da reação e foram obtidas as viscosidades das emulsões finais. Os ensaios foram realizados de acordo com um projeto fatorial com 3 níveis de concentração de emulsificantes e de protetor coloidal. Foi verificado que são necessárias maiores quantidades relativas de emulsificantes e de protetor coloidal pela massa total de monômeros para se obter látices estáveis com teores de sólidos de 70 e 73% (m/m). Os tamanhos médios das partículas no final de cada ensaio foram relativamente elevados (800 a 1000 nm) e as viscosidades a 20°C relativamente baixas (500 mPa.s) para teor de sólidos de 67% (m/m); para teor de sólidos de 70% (m/m) as viscosidades variaram de 5.000 a 10.000 mPa.s e para teor de sólidos de 73% (m/m) a viscosidade foi de 365.000 mPa.s.

Chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection reduces surfactant levels by inhibiting its biosynthesis

Chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection, as occurs in cystic fibrosis, is associated with decreased surfactant phospholipid levels. To investigate mechanisms, we measured synthesis of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), the major surfactant phospholipid. Mice received an agarose bead slurry alone, or were infected with beads containing a clinical mucoid isolate of P. aeruginosa. Bacterial infection after 3 days resulted in a approximately 50% reduction in surfactant DPPC content versus control. These changes in surfactant were associated with co-ordinate reductions in mRNAs and immunoreactive levels for CTP: phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase (CCTalpha), the rate-regulatory enzyme required for DPPC synthesis. P. aeruginosa infection of murine lung epithelia decreased CCTalpha gene transcription without altering mRNA stability and by a mechanism other than release of a soluble extracellular inhibitor. Promoter deletional analysis revealed that P. aeruginosa activates a negative response element from -1019 to -799 bp of the CCTalpha proximal 5'-flanking region. Exposure of cells to a P. aeruginosa mutant strain producing alginate reduced CCTalpha promoter activity, whereas these effects were not observed in strains defective in alginate synthesis. Murine type II cells isolated from P. aeruginosa-infected CCTalpha promoter-beta-galactosidase transgenic mice exhibited significantly reduced CCT and beta-galactosidase enzyme activities versus control. Thus, a mucoid P. aeruginosa strain reduces mRNA synthesis of a key biosynthetic enzyme thereby decreasing levels of surfactant.

Emulsion and miniemulsion polymerization of isobornyl acrylate

AbstractIsobornyl acrylate, a highly hydrophobic monomer, was batch‐polymerized in both emulsion and miniemulsion recipes. Surfactant levels above and below the critical micelle concentration were used, as were two different initiator types: ionic (potassium persulfate) and nonionic (t‐butyl hydroperoxide) Samples were analyzed for degree of conversion, molecular weight, and particle size. The effects of reaction type (emulsion versus miniemulsion), surfactant level, type of initiator (ionic versus nonionic) of the polymer properties are discussed. Issues of monomer transport across the aqueous phase, and mechanisms of nucleation, especially at very low surfactant concentrations are discussed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 819–833, 2007

Increased lung expansion alters lung growth but not alveolar epithelial cell differentiation in newborn lambs

Although increased lung expansion markedly alters lung growth and epithelial cell differentiation during fetal life, the effect of increasing lung expansion after birth is unknown. We hypothesized that increased basal lung expansion, caused by ventilating newborn lambs with a positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), would stimulate lung growth and alter alveolar epithelial cell (AEC) proportions and decrease surfactant protein mRNA levels. Two groups of lambs were sedated and ventilated with either 0 cmH(2)O PEEP (controls, n = 5) or 10 cmH(2)O PEEP (n = 5) for 48 h beginning at 15 +/- 1 days after normal term birth. A further group of nonventilated 2-wk-old lambs was used for comparison. We determined wet and dry lung weights, DNA and protein content, a labeling index for proliferating cells, surfactant protein mRNA expression, and proportions of AECs using electron microscopy. Although ventilating lambs for 48 h with 10 cmH(2)O PEEP did not affect total lung DNA or protein, it significantly increased the proportion of proliferating cells in the lung when compared with nonventilated 2-wk-old controls and lambs ventilated with 0 cmH(2)O PEEP (control: 2.6 +/- 0.5%; 0 PEEP: 1.9 +/- 0.3%; 10 PEEP: 3.5 +/- 0.3%). In contrast, no differences were observed in AEC proportions or surfactant protein mRNA levels between either of the ventilated groups. This study demonstrates that increases in end-expiratory lung volumes, induced by the application of PEEP, lead to increased lung growth in mechanically ventilated 2-wk-old lambs but do not alter the proportions of AECs.

Positional specificity of lysosomal phospholipase A2

Lysosomal phospholipase A(2) (Lpla2) is highly expressed in alveolar macrophages and may mediate the phospholipid metabolism of surfactant. Studies on the properties of this phospholipase are consistent with the presence of both phospholipase A(1) and phospholipase A(2) activities. These activities were studied through the production of O-acyl compounds, produced by the transacylase activity of Lpla2. Liposomes containing POPC and N-acetylsphingosine (NAS) were incubated with the soluble fraction obtained from MDCK cells stably transfected with the mouse Lpla2 gene. Two 1-O-acyl-NASs, 1-O-palmitoyl-NAS and 1-O-oleoyl-NAS, were produced by Lpla2. The formation rate of 1-O-oleoyl-NAS was 2.5-fold that of 1-O-palmitoyl-NAS. When 1-oleoyl-2-palmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (OPPC) was used, the formation rate of 1-O-oleoyl-NAS was 5-fold higher than that of 1-O-palmitoyl-NAS. Thus, Lpla2 can act on acyl groups at both sn-1 and sn-2 positions of POPC and OPPC. When 1-palmitoyl-2-unsaturated acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholines were used as acyl donors, the transacylation of the acyl group from the sn-2 position to NAS was preferred to that of the palmitoyl group from the sn-1 position. An exception was observed for 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (PAPC), for which the formation rate of 1-O-palmitoyl-NAS from PAPC was 4-fold greater than that of 1-O-arachidonoyl-NAS. Thus, Lpla2 has broad positional specificity for the sn-1 and sn-2 acyl groups in phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine.

The effect of free surfactant and grafted surfactant surface coverage on the rheology of organoclay dispersions

This work uses rheology to probe the solid-like network formed in organically modified montmorillonite clay dispersions. All dispersions are based upon two commercial organoclays, Cloisite® 15A and 20A, which differ only in the quantity of surfactant used in the cation exchange reaction performed to render the natural Na-montmorillonite organophilic. In both cases, the amount of surfactant used in the cation exchange reactions is in excess of the cation exchange capacity of montmorillonite. Removal of unexchanged, free surfactant and subsequent thermogravimetric analysis demonstrates that the as-received, unexchanged, and surfactant extracted organoclays possess different levels of free surfactant and grafted surfactant surface coverage. The four resulting organoclays were dispersed in p-xylene at two concentrations and subjected to oscillatory and steady shear experiments in a controlled-stress rheometer. Experimental data show that all dispersions exhibit a solid-like response at low applied stress foll...

Deletion of the Transmembrane Transporter ABCG1 Results in Progressive Pulmonary Lipidosis

We show that mice lacking the ATP-binding cassette transmembrane transporter ABCG1 show progressive and age-dependent severe pulmonary lipidosis that recapitulates the phenotypes of different respiratory syndromes in both humans and mice. The lungs of chow-fed Abcg1(-/-) mice, >6-months old, exhibit extensive subpleural cellular accumulation, macrophage, and pneumocyte type 2 hypertrophy, massive lipid deposition in both macrophages and pneumocytes and increased levels of surfactant. No such abnormalities are observed at 3 months of age. However, gene expression profiling reveals significant changes in the levels of mRNAs encoding key genes involved in lipid metabolism in both 3- and 8-month-old Abcg1(-/-) mice. These data suggest that the lungs of young Abcg1(-/-) mice maintain normal lipid levels by repressing lipid biosynthetic pathways and that such compensation is inadequate as the mice mature. Studies with A-549 cells, a model for pneumocytes type 2, demonstrate that overexpression of ABCG1 specifically stimulates the efflux of cellular cholesterol by a process that is dependent upon phospholipid secretion. In addition, we demonstrate that Abcg1(-/-), but not wild-type macrophages, accumulate cholesterol ester droplets when incubated with surfactant. Together, these data provide a mechanism to explain the lipid accumulation in the lungs of Abcg1(-/-)mice. In summary, our results demonstrate that ABCG1 plays essential roles in pulmonary lipid homeostasis.

Chromate Transport through Surfactant‐Modified Zeolite Columns

AbstractRemediation of ground water containing anionic contaminants presents a great challenge. Because of its low cost, surfactant‐modified zeolite (SMZ) has been studied for &gt;10 years for potential uses as permeable barrier materials to remove anionic contaminants from water. In this study, zeolite aggregates with particle size of 3.4 to 4.8 mm were modified by hexadecyltrimethylammonium (HDTMA) bromide, a cationic surfactant, to a surfactant loading level of 80 mmol/kg and a concurrent counterion bromide loading level of 34 mmol/kg. While no retardation of chromate transport was observed for unmodified columns, a retardation factor of 60 was found for chromate transport through the SMZ columns. Slow but persistent desorption of HDTMA occurred throughout the chromate transport experiment. Accompanying HDTMA desorption, slow release of counterion bromide and chromate also occurred. After the sorbed chromate was fully released when the columns were flushed with 400 pore volumes of water, a second pulse of chromate input was initiated. However, the chromate retardation factor was reduced to 5, indicating a loss of 90% of its functionality for chromate retardation, which is attributed to a change in the surfactant surface configuration from an admicelle formation to a monolayer. The results indicate that caution should be exercised when using SMZ as permeable barrier materials for remediating anion‐contaminated ground water.

The effect of varying levels of surfactant on the reactive uptake of N&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;O&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;5&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; to aqueous aerosol

Abstract. Recent observations have detected surface active organics in atmospheric aerosols. We have studied the reaction of N2O5 on aqueous natural seawater and NaCl aerosols as a function of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) concentration to test the effect of varying levels of surfactant on gas-aerosol reaction rates. SDS was chosen as a proxy for naturally occurring long chain monocarboxylic acid molecules, such as palmitic or stearic acid, because of its solubility in water and well-characterized surface properties. Experiments were performed using a newly constructed aerosol flow tube coupled to a chemical ionization mass spectrometer for monitoring the gas phase, and a differential mobility analyzer/condensation particle counter for determining aerosol surface area. We find that the presence of ~3.5wt% SDS in the aerosol, which corresponds to a monolayer surface coverage of ~2×1014 molecules cm-2, suppresses the N2O5 reaction probability, γN2O5, by approximately a factor of ten, independent of relative humidity. Consistent with this observation is a similar reduction in the rate of ClNO2 product generation measured simultaneously. However, the product yield remains nearly constant under all conditions. The degree of suppression is strongly dependent on SDS content in the aerosol, with no discernable effect at 0.1wt% SDS, but significant suppression at what we predict to be submonolayer coverages with 0.3–0.6wt% SDS on NaCl and natural seawater aerosols, respectively.

New Potentiometric Sensor for Determination of Low Levels of Anionic Surfactants in Industrial Effluents

Abstract The new surfactant sensor based on tetrahexadecylammonium dodecylsulfate as sensing ion-exchange complex, incorporated in plasticised PVC-membrane, has been used for potentiometric titration of low level anionic surfactants. The sensor exhibited near Nernstian response for dodecylsulfate (55.7 mV/decade) in the range 1.4·10−6 −5.6·10−3 mol/L and 57.3 mV/decade for dodecylbenzensulfonate in the range 1.9·10−6 −1.6·10−3 mol/L There are no significant interferences from organic and inorganic anions, commonly used in surfactant based industrial and household formulations at anionic surfactant potentiometric determination. The solutions of low levels (down to 10−5 mol/L) anionic surfactants (dodecylbenzensulfonate and dodecylsulfate) were successfully titrated with 1,3-didecyl-2-methylimidazolium chloride as standard cationic titrant. The sensor was used for determination of anionic surfactants in diluted industrial detergent products and industrial waste waters. The results obtained agree satisfactory with standard extraction-spectrophotometric MBAS method and are comparable with those obtained using a commercial surfactant electrode.

Reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization of methyl methacrylate in emulsion

AbstractTheoretical simulations showed that for controlled/living radical polymerization in an emulsion system, some of the earliest born particles could be superswollen to a size close to 1 μm. We hypothesized that the superswelling of these particles would lead to colloidal instability. Under the guidance of the simulation results, reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) was carried out. Experimental results showed that increasing the initiation rate, surfactant level, and targeted molecular weight could improve the colloidal stability of the RAFT polymerization of MMA in an emulsion. The experimental results were in full accord with the theoretical predictions. The poor control of the molecular weight and polydispersity index was found to have a close relationship with the colloidal instability. For the first time, we demonstrated that RAFT polymerization could successfully be implemented with little coagulum, good control of the molecular weight, and a low polydispersity index with the same process used for traditional emulsion polymerization but with higher surfactant levels and initiation rates. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44:2837–2847, 2006

Adenoviral gene transfer of a mutant surfactant enzyme ameliorates pseudomonas-induced lung injury

Surfactant deficiency is an important contributor to the acute respiratory distress syndrome, a disorder that commonly occurs after bacterial sepsis. CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase (CCTalpha) is the rate-limiting enzyme required for the biosynthesis of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), the major phospholipid of surfactant. In this study, a cDNA encoding a novel, calpain-resistant mutant CCTalpha enzyme was delivered intratracheally in mice using a replication-deficient adenovirus 5 CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase construct (Ad5-CCT(Penta)) in models of bacterial sepsis. Ad5-CCT(Penta) gene transfer produced high-level CCTalpha gene expression, increased alveolar surfactant (DPPC) levels and improved lung surface tension and pressure-volume relationships relative to control mice. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA103) decreased DPPC synthesis, in part, via calpain-mediated degradation of CCTalpha. Deleterious effects of Pseudomonas on surfactant were lessened after infection with a mutant strain lacking the type III exotoxin, Exo U. Replication-deficient adenovirus 5 CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase gene delivery improved lung biophysical properties by optimizing surface activity in this Pseudomonas model of proteinase-mediated lung injury. The studies are the first demonstration of in vivo gene transfer of a lipogenic enzyme resulting in improved lung mechanics. The studies suggest that augmentation of DPPC synthesis via gene delivery of CCTalpha can attenuate impaired lung function in surfactant-deficient states such as bacterial sepsis.

The effects of surfactant dosed water on solid transport in above ground near horizontal drainage systems

Surfactants play an increasing part in the makeup of waste water from building drainage systems. The determination of the concentration of surfactants in drainage flows is complicated by the wide range of actual concentration levels revealed by manufacturers of commercially available cleaning products and soaps and the dilution of this by varying quantities of water in the drainage systems, due to the unsteady flows from appliance discharge. A methodology of determining the relationship between the surfactant concentration and solid velocity is tested, whereby the concentration of surfactant in the water flow was progressively increased and solid velocity measured. This method proved difficult as surfactant levels accumulated in the system made it impossible to determine real concentration levels. An alternative approach of determining surfactant concentration levels as a result of appliance discharge proved more useful. This methodology lead to the determination of realistic concentration levels of surfactants in a drainage line. Solid velocities were found to increase as a result of the presence of surfactants. This modification has a significance in the area of water conservation as it shows that systems perform better, even with reduced water usage appliances, as a result of the presence of surfactants.

ATR-FTIR membrane-based sensor for the simultaneous determination of surfactant and oil total indices in industrial degreasing baths

Monitoring the exhaustion of alkaline degreasing baths is one of the main aspects in metal mechanizing industrial process control. The global level of surfactant, and mainly grease, can be used as ageing indicators. In this paper, an attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) membrane-based sensor is presented for the determination of these parameters. The system is based on a micro-liquid-liquid extraction of the analytes through a polymeric membrane from the aqueous to the organic solvent layer which is in close contact with the internal reflection element and continuously monitored. Samples are automatically processed using a simple, robust sequential injection analysis (SIA) configuration, on-line coupled to the instrument. The global signal obtained for both families of compounds are processed via a multivariate calibration technique (partial least squares, PLS). Excellent correlation was obtained for the values given by the proposed method compared to those of the gravimetric reference one with very low error values for both calibration and validation.