Rapid characterization of fatty alcohol ethoxylates by non-aqueous capillary electrophoresis

Fatty alcohol ethoxylates (FAE) (a mixture of nonionic surfactants) have been characterized using NACE with UV detection. Phenyl polyurethane derivatives of these compounds were previously obtained by reaction with phenyl isocyanate. The derivatization reaction only requires microwave irradiation for 30 s (600 W). Phenyl polyurethanes were separated and characterized using a BGE containing a mixture of ammonium nitrate (15 mM), acetic acid (1.5%) and 9:1 v/v methanol/ACN. After optimization of the instrumental conditions for the separation, phenyl polyurethane compounds (formed from the corresponding FAE) with ethylene oxide numbers (EON) of 6 (certified standard and industrial samples), 7 and 10 (both as industrial samples), and 5.5 (microemulsion phase) were successfully separated and characterized. The properties of these FAE nonionic surfactants are very important in the petroleum industry, which requires characterization of the quality of the purchased materials as well as the final products in the microemulsion-oil-water stream process. This analytical objective has been achieved by the proposed NACE methods, allowing FAE to be distinguished from 5.5 to 10 EON with errors below 4%, and shows advantages against to HPLC methods.