Analysis of non-ionic surfactants of the “Fatty Amine/Amide derivated” type


Fatty Amine/Amide derivatives are obtained by reacting a mixture of fatty acids (for example from coconut) with Diethanolamine or DEA.
The best known are Ethanolamines (Cocamide MEA [68140-00-1], Cocamide DEA [68603-42-9]).

Fatty amides are commonly used as a foaming agent for shampoos, soaps, and an emulsifying agent for cosmetic products.


The distribution of the units (distribution) is to be directly linked with the surfactant properties and their analysis is possible by UPLC/TOF-MS.

PERKIN ELMER ALTUS A30 – AXION 2 TOF
Distribution: The study of different surfactants has made it possible to update examples of distributions:




Analysis of a Coconut diethanolamide [68603-42-9]

  • DEA Octanamide
  • DEA Decanamide
  • DEA Dodecanamide (Cocamide DEA [68603-42-9])
    = Majority compound
  • DEA Tetradecanamide
  • DEA Linoleamide
  • DEA Hexadecanamide ( Palmitanamide DEA [7545-24-6]
  • DEA Oleamide [93-83-4]
  • DEA Stearamide [93-82-3]
    • Distribution Coconut diethanolamide [68603-42-9]
    Répartition des composés amines ethoxylées

    Analysis of ethoxylated amines (Ethoxylated Tallow Amine = POEA)
    [61790-33-8] / [61791-26-2])

    • Decylamine n+m = 5 to 10 (light blue)
    • Dodecylamine n+m = 4 to 10 (dark blue)
    • Tetradecylamine n+m = 4 to 12 (pink)
    • Hexadecenamine n+m = 4 to 11 (orange)
    • Linoleamine n+m = 4 to 12 (sky blue)
    • Hexadecanamine n+m = 5 to 13 (purple)
    • Octadecenamine n+m=4 to n=13 (pale pink)
    • Octadecanamine n+m = 4 to 13 (green)
    • Eicosylamine n+m = 5 to 10 … (dark blue)

    The predominant compounds are Ethoxylated Octadecanamine and Ethoxylated Octadecenamine centered around n=8.


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