Surfactant Test and Analysis

EUROLAB in finished products, intermediates and residues; provides analysis services within the scope of identification and quantification of surfactants. EUROLAB is a leading provider of surfactant analysis services for the consumer products industry and surfactant manufacturers.

EUROLAB uses state-of-the-art instruments to efficiently and accurately evaluate products and materials for surfactants. Our liquid separation laboratory is fully equipped with Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC), High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) instruments for the separation, identification and quantification of surfactants in a variety of sample matrices.

Examples of EUROLAB Laboratory's surfactant (surfactant) testing capabilities:

• Analysis of anionic, cationic and nonionic surfactants for composition
• Identification and amount of surfactant in detergents
• Identification and quantification of surfactant in cleaners and other consumer products
• Amount of Sodium Lauryl Sulphate
• Characterization of manufactured surfactants (i.e. raw materials)
• Identification of surfactants in commercial products for reverse engineering
• Surfactant identification and quantification

Techniques used for the process

EUROLAB has the most advanced instrumentation to perform surfactant analyses. Most surfactant analyzes will require some separation of components within the sample. Our laboratory routinely uses LC-MS for these analyses. Our laboratory is well equipped with LC-MS instruments that can provide accurate mass information about the components in the sample. This; It allows us to take quick action to test the components in the product.

Complex surfactant formulations can contain dozens of ingredients in a wide range of concentration levels, requiring a multidisciplinary approach. A coordinated approach combining extraction, separation science, and spectroscopy skills may be required. A more frequently used standard approach is a combination of NMR and MALDI that combines both chemical specificity and absolute quantification.

Nonionic Surfactant Analysis:

• EOPO copolymers (Poloxamers)
• Alcohol or Phenolic initiated alkoxylates (Butanol ethoxylates, Nonyl phenol ethoxylates)
• PEG esters (Adipic ethoxylate esters)

Anionic Surfactant Analysis:

• Aliphatic and aromatic Sulfonates and Pulfates (Alkyl benzene sulphonate)
• Phosphate Esters, eg Nonylphenol Ethoxylate Phosphate ester

Cationic Surfactant Analysis:

• Ester quats (Di-tallow triethanolamine ester quat)
• Alkyl amine quaterners (dimethyl ammonium quat)

Zwitterionic Surfactant Analysis:

• Betaine Cocamidopropyl betaines (CAPB)

LC-MS can also detect compounds without UV chromophores that cannot be detected by HPLC-UV. Once identified, the surfactant in the sample can be quantified using UPLC, HPLC or LC-MS. EUROLAB has other tools for more difficult analysis, including GC-MS ,NMR , FT-IR , ICP and many other instruments. Only the most suitable techniques will be used for the project and will help you manage the cost of the project.

Impact Analytics will contact you during your surfactant analysis to ensure your project goals are met. Throughout the project you will be able to determine if your needs are being met and whether additional testing is required to meet your needs.