Calcium fluoride, cleavage

Aqueous solutions of the cyclic lactone were analyzed by Hall, Brandt, and Mason [ ] for caprolactam (cleavage product) by scanning the water solutions with the reference beam compensated with a matching water reference. Absorbance at 8.37 /x is proportioned to caprolactam content. Sodium fluoride or calcium fluoride cells with pathlengths of 25 n or less must be used. Slits have to be opened up and source intensity must be boosted somewhat. Calibration is achieved by making up standard solutions of caprolactam (1-10%) and running these at the same time samples are run. This is necessary as the instrument parameters and cell constants may not be exactly reproducible each time. 

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