Triton X-100, is a polyethylene oxide-based, non-ionic surfactant. Due to the variety of different, polymeric chain-lengths contained within this complex product, a characterization method is described to determine the relative amounts of the different components, which may vary from lot-to-lot.

Triton X-100 is a polymeric, non-ionic, hydrophilic surfactant consisting of repeating blocks of polyethylene oxides with a phenylalkyl moiety. A single-peak HPLC method using a mass-dependent detector, such as the Corona Veo charged aerosol detector is detailed, with limit of quantitation of approximately 20 ng on column (based on baseline quality in region of peak). and a dynamic range up to 5000 ng on column. Over this dynamic range, a correlation coefficient of 0.9997 was calculated. This method is intended for quantitation of Triton X-100 as a raw material.

The Thermo Scientific Acclaim Surfactant column is used for the analysis of Triton X-100, with ESI-MS detection. Triton X-100 is one of the most commonly used nonionic detergents.

The Thermo Scientific Acclaim Surfactant Plus column can provide a detailed profile of the variation in ethoxylation number of the alkylphenolethoxylate family of surfactants. In this work a simple isocratic method is used to provide a detailed profile of Triton X-100 which is a prime example of this type of surfactant.

The Thermo Scientific UltiMate 3000 RSLC system is applied for the analysis of cationic, nonionic, amphoteric and anionic surfactants. The separation is performed using a Thermo Scientific Acclaim Surfactant Plus column, with charged aerosol detection. The Thermo Scientific Acclaim Surfactant Plus column, based on novel mixed mode chromatography technology and advanced surface chemistry, provides both reversed-phase and anion-exchange retention mechanisms.