Isolation of interfacial material from organic matrices

A method for analyzing a crude oil solution for the presence of at least one interfacially active compound in the crude oil solution, the method comprising:

• adding water to a porous adsorbent to obtain a supported water substrate, wherein the supported water substrate comprises from 10 to 30 water monolayers disposed on the porous adsorbent;
• exposing the crude oil solution to the supported water substrate for a period of time;
• separating the supported water substrate from the crude oil solution;
• washing the supported water substrate with a water immiscible solvent to remove at least one hydrocarbon while retaining the at least one interfacially active compound with the water monolayers on the supported water substrate;
• displacing water from the plurality of water monolayers and the at least one interfacially active compound from the porous adsorbent with an alcohol and a polar solvent for the interfacially active compound to obtain a displaced phase, wherein the displaced phase comprises the water, the at least one interfacially active compound, the alcohol, and the polar solvent;
• and
• drying the displaced phase to isolate the at least one interfacially active compound.