Which method of separation is more preferable, GC/MS or HPLC, for the identification of chemical components mainly surfactants in domestic greywater samples?
For GC/MS of surfactants I always had to do some type of derivatization or pyrolysis to get volatile compounds that could be analyzed. Since your samples are in water you will have to take steps to assure no water gets to the filament in the GC/MS. I would suggest using HPLC-MS to avoid any of these complications.
For, Identification GC-MS is more preferable than simple HPLC, because whatever you get in GC-MS, it will corelate with Library and you can easily identify the probable compounds. But if you have LC-MS/MS then definitely you can do better than GC-MS.
For volatile organic acids HPLC and for phenols GC could be used in analysis of greywater. But still I endorse Bruce Levison.
if the compound is volatile and thermally stable,try out GC-MS ...if needed do some derivatization and analyse it
for the identification purpose GC-MS is preferable, because mass spectrometer provide a molecular wight of organic component which present in Grey water, and only for the separation purpose go with HPLC because it is more reliable and applicable and i noted that your perspective to analyse grey water it contain not only organic Surfactants but inorganic phosphate and other salt from soap and hard water, so if possible go with LC-MS.
How about LC-MS.
Since you are trying to separate water based samples Liquid Chromatography is the ideal followed by identification MS is the best.
But the use of GC-MS is not recommended as you have to deal with the sample preparation prior to injection which could be tedious.
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