Method of determining waste solution components

The methods are described for determining the components of waste solutions of laundry waters. An extraction spectrophotometric method was tested and modified for the determination of surfactants. The method is based on their reaction with methylene blue and extraction of the resulting ion associate into chloroform. Determination of soaps is based on the reaction of methylene blue with fatty acids in an alkaline medium, extraction of the resulting associate into chloroform and measurement of its absorbance. Phosphorus is determined by spectrophotometry using the production of vanadomolybdophosphoric acid. Prior to determination, polymer phosphates used in detergents must be converted into simple phosphates by hydrolysis in an acid medium. Non-ionogen surfactants of the ethylene oxide type are determined using a radiometric method based on the extraction of the ion associate non-ionogen surfactant/133Ba/dicarbollide into nitrobenzene. The activity of 133Ba in the organic phase is in direct proportion to the concentration of non-ionogen surfactant in the sample. Calibration curves for determining certain components are presented. (Z.M.)