HPLC Determination of polyethylene glycol in Polyethoxylation Nonionic Surfactants

HPLC was applied to the determination of polyethylene glycol in polyethoxylation nonionic surfactants. Polyethylene glycols with different relative molecular masses were separated on the C18 silica gel bonding column (4.6 mm ×250 mm, 5 μm). A mixture of methanol and water mixed in the ratio of 90 to 10 (by volume) was used as mobile phase. Charged aerosol detector (CAD) was used in the determination. Linear relationships between logarithmic values of peak area and mass of polyethylene glycols with the different relative molecular were kept in the same range of 0.08-3.2 μg. Detection limit of (3S/N) of the method was found in the range of 6-7 ng. The proposed method was applied to the analysis of polyoxyethylene ether and alkylphenol polyoxyethylene ether, values of recovery found were 101.6% and 104.7% respectively. Values of RSD′s (n=6) were less than 5.0%.