Ion-association compounds of anionic surfactants with iron(II)chelates: Part II. Selective determination of surfactants

Homologous anionic surfactants may be separated from each other by solvent extraction of their ion-association compounds with iron(II) chelates. Separations of components from a number of surfactant mixtures were investigated, and the effect of solution variables on extraction and separation was studied. A method is proposed for the determination of surfactants of various chain lengths. Applications of this method to synthetic mixtures and to biodegradation experiments are described.