A new titrimetric analysis for ethylene oxide condensates

Summary and Conclusions A critical review of the literature was made in search of suitable methods for analyzing ethylene oxide condensates. These studies led to the development of a rapid empirical titrimetric method for measuring nonionic hydrophobicity based on a water titration of a condensate dissolved in dimethylformamide (DMF) and benzene. The end‐point is identified by a definite solution turbidity. Calibration curves were prepared from known condensates. This method should be useful for analysis of adducts in plant quality control and also for nonionics with known hydrophobes. Ether type adducts can not. (Ethylene oxide in esters can be calculated from their saponification values.) Examples of adducts which can be identified by the titrimetric method are those based on fatty alcohols and alkylphenols. Proprietary nonionics analyzed by the DMF method had ethylene oxide values in agreement with those claimed by the manufacturers. DMF data also compare favorably with that by hydriodic acid cleavage.