QUANTITATIVE-ANALYSIS OF ADDITIVES IN POLYMERS USING COUPLED SUPERCRITICAL FLUID EXTRACTION SUPERCRITICAL FLUID CHROMATOGRAPHY

A procedure is described for the quantitative analysis of additives in polymers by a coupled supercritical fluid extraction (SFE)-supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) system. Various polyethylene and polypropylene samples from several manufacturers were extracted by SFE and the extracts analyzed by SFC. Successful extractions and analyses were performed on ten different additives ranging from butylhydroxytoluene (218 a.m.u.) to Irganox 1010 {pentaerythritol tetrakis[3-(3,5-di-tert.-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate], 1178 a.m.u.}. Extraction efficiencies are generally greater then 92%. This technique provides a rapid and accurate alternative for investigators who may normally use a traditional solvent extraction method followed by chromatography or spectroscopy. © 1990.