DETERMINATION OF OXYETHYLENE DISTRIBUTION IN CONDENSATES OF PRIMARY ALCOHOLS WITH ETHYLENE OXIDE

A new method has been developed that makes possible determination of the oxyethylene distribution of the condensates of mixed carbon number detergent-range, primary alcohols with ethylene oxide over a wide range. Circular thin layer chromatography of the 3,5-dinitrobenzoate ester derivatives is used to separate the condensates into a series of groups, each group containing all of the compounds present having the same number of oxyethylene units. These groups of esters are recovered and determined by a spectrophotometric procedure. Distribution curves are obtained that cover the range of added oxyethylene units from 0 to as high as 18. Higher adducts are recovered and determined as a group. © 1969 AOCS Press.