ANALYSIS OF NONIONIC SURFACTANTS BY HPLC USING EVAPORATIVE LIGHT-SCATTERING DETECTOR

The analysis of surfactants, the basis of numerous surface wetting age nts, detergents, emulsifiers, cosmetic products... is frequently carri ed out by liquid chromatography. Unfortunately, the analyses are very complex because of the use of gradients and the lack of suitable chrom ophore. The object of this study by HPLC using an evaporative light-sc attering detector was to select chromatographic conditions that charac terize the majority of the different nonionic surfactants (ethoxylated , oxypropylated, propoethoxylated, ethopropoxylated), according to the ir hydrophobic and hydrophilic parts.