Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the assay of 1,4-dioxane in sulphated polyoxyethylene alcohol surfactants

A rapid high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the assay of 1,4-dioxane in ethoxylated fatty alcohol sulphates. After solid-phase extraction using Bakerbond C₁₈ cartridges, samples were directly analysed on a LiChrospher CH-8 reversed-phase column with UV detection at 200 nm and an acetonitrile-water eluent. Recovery of 1,4-dioxane from the surfactant matrix was 95.7% in the 40 to 120 μg g⁻¹ range. The minimum quantifiable amount was 18 μg g⁻¹. The procedure is simple, reproducible, specific and suitable for routine analyses of commercial surfactants.