scope:

Under the experimental conditions, sulfonates and sulfates are the compounds chiefly measured, but some positive and negative interferences can occur. The method is applicable to drinking water, surface water as well as waste water, e.g. for the determination of the primary degradation of surfactants being under investigation in test systems containing natural or synthetic waste water. This applies for both laboratory scaled and technical waste water treatment plants. In the case of effluents originating from municipal waste water treatment plants, the MBAS index comprises not only synthetic but to a considerable extent also natural anionic surface active substances. The range of this method is applicable to concentrations of 0,1 to 5,0 mg/l and the limit of detection is about 0,05 mg/l for solutions of standard surfactants in distilled water.