The paper presents methods of determination of analytes of the cation group (alkyl benzyl dimethyl
ammonium (BDDA-C12-C16), alkyl trimethyl ammonium (TMA), hexadecyl piridinium (HP)) in surface water
and bottom sediment samples. In the sample preparation phase the solid phase extraction (SPE) or accelerated
solvent extraction/ultrasound assisted extraction (ASE/UAE)-SPE technique was used and in the identification
phase and quantitative determination of analytes phase - ion chromatography technique (combined with
a conductivity detector (CD)). The determined concentrations were in the range below the determined method
detection limit (MDL) or method quantification limit (MQL) figures up to 0.142 ±0.023 mg/dm3 or
2014 ±10 μg/kg (liquid and solid samples, respectively). Comparing concentrations of individual analytes found in
liquid and solid environmental samples we may notice that surfactants containing a shorter alkyl chain in their
molecules were found in higher concentrations in liquid samples (hydrophobicity increasing with the chain
length)
