Division 5.2

From a homogeneous sample (powders, dried paste and dried liquids) an ethanol extract is obtained which contains the surfactants, soap and other alcohol-soluble constituents of the detergent sample.

The ethanol extract is evaporated to dryness, dissolved in an isopropanol/water mixture and the solution obtained is passed through a strongly acidic cation exchange/macro-porous anion exchange combination heated to 50 ° C. This temperature is necessary to prevent the precipitation of any fatty acids which may be present in acidic media. The non-ionic surfactants are obtained from the effluent by evaporation.

Cationic surfactants, which might upset the degradation test and the analytical procedure, are eliminated by the cation exchanger placed above the anion exchanger.

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