Determination of the “potential surface-active hydroxyl content” of fatty alcohols and their ethoxylates

Abstract

A quantitative sulphation procedure for hydroxyl groups has been developed, which, when used in conjunction with an established method for determining anionic surfactants, gives a rapid analytical method for the determination of the “potential surface-active content” of alcohols or their ethylene oxide derivatives. With this procedure it is possible to discriminate between potentially surface-active and other hydroxyl groups.