Analytical Tools for Identifying, Characterizing Structures and Quantifying Surfactants in Commercial Detergents plus the Evolution of the Surfactant System in Detergent Products from 2000 to 2022

In an era defined by fluctuating raw material costs, shifting regulatory mandates, and intensifying consumer demand for sustainable products, the formulation of commercial detergents has become a complex balancing act. As commercial detergent formulations grow increasingly complex, the balance of cost, performance, and environmental impact requires a deeper look into the chemistry of cleaning. This webinar explores the analytical breakthroughs and historical market trends driving modern surfactant technology. 

Experts from Battelle will dive into the variety of methods, including advanced liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), used to isolate, characterize, and quantify the surfactant components in detergent products, e.g., alcohol sulfates (AS), alcohol ether sulfates (AES), alcohol ethoxylates (AEO), and linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS). In addition, chemical structure information such as the degree of branching and carbon chains in the alcohol (relating to petrochemical vs. oleochemical sources), degree of ethoxylation, and 2-phenyl content of the LAS can be quantified. 

Additionally, the session will look at how detergent formulations in the U.S. and Europe have evolved over the last two decades, tracking the market reality of traditional petrochemical ingredients versus emerging bio-based alternatives. This highlights the reliance on established surfactant chemistries that balance performance and cost. It can also be seen that more sustainable, biosurfactant (biologically produced) alternatives have appeared, such as rhamnolipids, sophorolipids, and lipopeptides. 

Featured Speaker Bios 

Dr. Franco Pala is a Senior Research Scientist (Chemist IV) and Laboratory Director at Battelle Memorial Institute, where he is part of the Analytical Chemistry Services group. His work spans environmental chemistry, consumer products chemistry, and advanced analytical method development. Throughout his career, Dr. Pala has focused on understanding the biogeochemical cycles of pollutants and developing tools to characterize their behavior in complex environmental systems. 

Dr. Pala’s early academic research centered on the geochemical cycling of metals in the neritic waters of the western Mediterranean Sea. During his doctoral studies, he investigated how natural organic matter influences the speciation, fate, transport, and bioavailability of aquatic contaminants. As part of his Ph.D. research, he developed a passive sampling device capable of monitoring copper speciation—and therefore bioavailability—in marine environments. 

Over his 18-year tenure at Battelle, Dr. Pala has led the BWDP laboratory team in creating and validating analytical methods using LC-MS/MS, GC/MS, and ICP-MS for quantifying trace organic compounds and metal ions in environmental matrices and formulated products. His work includes evaluating the chemical composition of household and industrial products to anticipate their fate in domestic wastewater systems and the broader environment. He has presented research findings to BWDP clients as well as at national and international scientific conferences. 

A significant focus of Dr. Pala’s recent work is the monitoring, detection, and treatment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in a range of aquatic environments. He holds three issued patents related to PFAS sampling, analytical techniques, and granular activated carbon regeneration, and is a co-inventor on two provisional patent applications for innovative PFAS remediation technologies currently under development. 

In addition to his research leadership, Dr. Pala has served as an adjunct faculty member at Bridgewater State University, teaching general chemistry and advanced environmental chemistry. 

Jordan Tower is a Chemist I at Battelle Memorial Institute. She serves as the project manager for the Battelle World Detergent Program and contributes to projects involving PFAS contamination, with a focus on organic fluorine analysis by CIC. She joined Battelle in 2015 and has experience with the analysis of waters, sediments, and tissues for polychlorinated biphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, alkanes, and chlorinated pesticides, as well as pesticide residues in crop, soil, and water matrices. Since 2018, her primary area of work has been the compositional analysis of home care products. She leads a small team responsible for 35 analytical methods, including IC, CIC, HPLC-PDA, GC-MS, LC-MS, titration methods, and gravimetric and colorimetric techniques. She also oversees data management for this work. Her ongoing interests include method development and analytical problem solving for consumer products.