Analysis of surfactants using pyrolysis-gas chromatography

A pyrolysis-gas chromatographic method has been devised for the rapid analysis of surfactants and surfactant mixtures. The method involves pyrolysis of the surfactant in a unit directly attached to a gas chromatograph. The resulting pyrolysis products give characteristic gas chromatographic patterns which are useful for analysis of the original surfactant. This method is useful for the qualitative identification of surfactants either alone, in synthetic mixtures, or in commercial products. In many cases, the technique can also be used for semiquantitative estimation of (1) relative amounts of the individual components in mixtures and (2) structural distribution of the surfactants. The method is amenable to both solid and liquid and both light-duty and heavy-duty detergent formulations. Presented at the AOCS meeting, Houston, 1965. Company name formerly “California Research Corporation.”