Development and application method for determination of LAB in detergents by SPME-GC/MS

Author(s)

José Carlos Pires Penteado

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Conjunto das Químicas (IQ e FCF) (CQ/DBDCQ)
• Defense date: 2005-12-09

Examining board members

Lilian Rothchild Franco de Carvalho; Fábio Augusto; Renato Sanches Freire; Sergio Massaro; Ronei Jesus Poppi

• Advisor: Lilian Rothchild Franco de Carvalho

Abstract

Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonated (LAS) is the main anionic surfactant, wide used in detergents. The Linear Alkylbenzene (LAB), a by-product, makes association with the surfactant, due the incomplete sulfonation of the LAS. Recently there has been widespread interest in their use as markers tracers of domestic waste in the aquatic environment. In this study, a new method for determination of LAB in detergents involving gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in combination with Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME) is proposed. A factorial design was utilized to obtain the optimum values for the main operation parameters in the analysis of LAB in detergents using direct SPME in the pre-concentration step. SPME-GC/MS in combination whit principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to evaluate the parameters that affect on SPME. The optimized method was applied to commercial detergents (0.97 and 3.67 mg.g-1 of total LAB) and LAS ( 24.47 mg.g-1 of total LAB) samples. Similar profiles of LAB congeners were found for the detergents and LAS samples indicating that identical surfactants. In some samples, LAB were not found (limit of detection < 0.2 mg.mL-1). (AU)