ATMOSPHERIC-PRESSURE IONIZATION MASS-SPECTROMETRIC ANALYSIS OF NEW ANIONIC SURFACTANTS - THE ALKYLPOLYGLUCOSIDE ESTERS

Atmospheric-pressure ionization mass spectrometry has been successfull y applied to characterization of a new class of anionic surfactants, t he alkylpolyglucoside esters of sulfosuccic, citric and tartaric acid. Complex mixtures of final and intermediate products were injected dir ectly into the ion source without prior chromatographic separation. Th e constituents were identified on the basis of quasi-molecular ions: c ationized ions or solute-solute cluster ions in positive-ion mode, and deprotonated ions in negative-ion mode. The mass-spectrometric data s how that all three final products contain one nonionic and two differe nt types of anionic surfactants. The ''real time,'' highly sensitive m ass-spectrometric approach proposed here is well suited for quality co ntrol testing of tensides, to ensure the safety of the final product, and far the validation of the manufacturing process, because it is abl e to identify the individual components of the mixture.