AN-T-015
Nonionic surfactants in liquid household cleaners
Summary
Household cleaners such as laundry detergent and dish soap contain non-ionic (NIO) surfactants to help remove dirt and grease from different materials. NIO surfactants have excellent solubility in water and do not produce much foam. However, after long exposure, the skin can become irritated as its lipid membrane becomes damaged. The NIO surfactant content is listed in the product ingredients and therefore should be monitored as a measure of quality control. A reliable way to determine the content of non-ionic surfactants in liquid cleaning solutions by potentiometric titration is shown in this Application Note.