Ultrasonic Extraction and TLC Determination of Surfactants in Laundry Wastewaters

Abstract

Abstract Standard method of surfactant determination is UV/VIS determination and a long time — consuming standard flask extraction with chloroform, in which very large quantities of harmful organic solvent are employed. In this work, ultrasonic solvent extraction of anionic, cationic and non-ionic surfactants was compared with the traditional shake-flask extraction method and both methods were applied on laundry wastewater samples. Separation, identification and quantification of surfactants were done by thin layer chromatography and video densitometry. Ultrasonic extraction procedure was optimized with regard to the amount of solvent and duration of extraction. This extraction method proved to be much better because it was faster and more efficient. Due to the application of much less organic solvent, it is both economically and ecologically favorable.