Separation and quantitative determination of non-ionic surfactants used as pesticide additives

The various chromatographic techniques suitable for the separation and quantitative determination of non-ionic surfactants in industrial and environmental samples are reviewed with special emphasis on the sample preparation methods. Techniques are classified (thin-layer, high-performance, supercritical fluid and gas-liquid chromatography) and discussed separately. The sophisticated gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry techniques are the most suitable methods for the separation of non-ionic surfactants according to both the number of ethylene oxide groups per molecule and the character of the hydrophobic moiety.