Extraction and determination of linear alkylbenzenesulfonate detergents from the aquatic environment using a membrane disk and gas chromatography

Levels of linear alkylbenzenesulfonate (LAS) detergents have been measured in Anzali lagoon water sampled at fourteen stations. All samples were extracted with octadecyl-bonded silica membrane disks. Extraction efficiency, maximum capacity, and the effect of the solvent used to extract the LAS from the membrane disks were evaluated. Extraction efficiencies > 95% were obtained by elution of the disks with minimal amounts of solvent. It was demonstrated that membrane disk extraction introduced less error into analytical results than liquid – liquid extraction. Quantitative determination of total LAS levels and measurement of the distribution of LAS homologs with C₁₀? C₁₃ alkyl chains were performed by high resolution gas chromatography with flame ionization detection after derivatization of the detergents with sulfonyl chloride. The total level of LAS ranged from 0.01 to 0.89 ppm.