Surfactants (surface active agents = SAAs) are a group of compoundswith specific physicochemical properties (amphiphilicity,solubility in polar and nonpolar liquids, ability to form micelles,adsorption at phase boundaries).1,2 Because of their properties,surface-active compounds are widely applied in industry and thehousehold (e.g., in detergents, personal-care products, paints,pesticides, petroleum products). As their applications are on avery large scale, it has become imperative to monitor SAAs levelsin environmental samples with regard to the protection of humanhealth and various aspects of the ecosystems. Consequently,there is a need to develop appropriate analytical methodologiesenabling the determination of a wide range of SAAs in differenttypes of environmental sample. The measurement data obtainedthereby should be reliable and comply with quality assurance andcontrol systems (QA/QC).We give a general classification of SAAs (with examples of thestructural formulas of selected compounds) and of their toxicity toliving organisms. Next, we review the problems posed by theanalysis of surfactants in environmental samples and the analyticaltechniques used to isolate and/or preconcentrate, identify andquantify a broad spectrum of analytes (i.e., ionic and nonioniccompounds and their metabolites). Finally, we provide informationon surfactants levels determined in environmental samples.
Authors
Additional information
- DOI
- Digital Object Identifier link open in new tab 10.1021/cr100107g
- Category
- Publikacja w czasopiśmie
- Type
- artykuł w czasopiśmie wyróżnionym w JCR
- Language
- angielski
- Publication year
- 2011
