CAPILLARY-COLUMN GAS CHROMATOGRAPHIC DETERMINATION OF 3 ANALOGUES OF ETHYLENEGLYCOL ETHER IN HYDROPHILIC COATINGS OR PAINTS

Three analogues of ethyleneglycol ether,namely,ethyleneglycol monomethyl ether(EGMME),ethyleneglycol monoethyl ether(EGMEE) and ethyleneglycol monobutyl ether(EGMBE),were determined by gas chromatography using capillary column (HP 20 M,25.0 m×0.32 mm i.d.,0.20 μm).The sample was extracted ultrasonically with a mixture of ethanol and petroleum ether mixed in the ratio of 3 to 1 by volume.The extract was separated by freezing centrifugation at high speed.The separated upper clear layer (the extract) was then dehydrated by anhydrous sodium sulfate,and filtered through a 0.45 μm filtering membrane.The filtrate was ready for GC analysis.Qualitative analysis was done by using retention time.Quantitative analysis was carried out by the external standard method basing on the linear relationships between the peak area and concentration of the 3 analogues of ethyleneglycol ether in definite ranges.Precision and accuracy of the preposed method were tested,giving RSD′s in the range of 0.40%-2.32%,and recoveries in the range from 84.3% to 110.8%.Detection limit of this method was found to be 2.5 μg·g-1 for any of the 3 analogues.