USE OF THIN-LAYER AND HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY FOR THE STUDY OF THE ADSORPTION OF SURFACTANTS ON A RIVER SEDIMENT

The adsorption of tributylphenol ethylene oxide isomers containing var ious lengths of ethylene oxide chain and positional isomers of tributy lphenol on a riverine sediment was studied by thin-layer chromatograph y combined with high-performance liquid chromatography. The adsorption capacity of the sediment was compared with that of silica, alumina an d diatomaceous earth. It was established that the adsorption capacity of the riverine sediment is similar to that of silica. The adsorption of surfactants on the sediment surface is not selective. Neither the l ength of the ethylene oxide chain nor the position of the butyl substi tuents on the phenol ring influence significantly the adsorption.