Analytical method for a cationic fabric softener in waters and wastes

Abstract

The Waters and Kupfer disulfine blue method for cationic surfactants has been extensively modified in order to extend its applicability to the broad range of samples necessary for elucidating the removal and biodegradability of the cationic fabric softener distearyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (DSDMAC) during sewage treatment. In addition, these modifications have overcome the need for preconditioning anion-exchange resin columns and the instability of the disulfine blue-quaternary ion association compound, both recognized by the authors as problems associated with the Waters and Kupfer method. The addition of a thin layer chromatographic procedure has made possible the semiquantitative estimation of the DSDMA⁺ cation contribution to the measured level of disulfine blue active substances.