Methyl isobutylketone extraction

A number of techniques have been developed for the trace analysis of siUcones in environmental samples. In these analyses, care must be taken to avoid contamination of the samples because of the ubiquitous presence of siUcones, particularly in a laboratory environment. Depending on the method of detection, interference from inorganic siUcate can also be problematic, hence nonsiUca-based vessels are often used in these deterrninations. SiUcones have been extracted from environmental samples with solvents such as hexane, diethyl ether, methyl isobutylketone, ethyl acetate, and tetrahydrofuran (THF)... 

The principle Zr ore, zircon (Zr silicate) is processed by caustic fusion or by direct chlorination of milled coke and zircon mixts. Washing of the Na fusion cake leave an acid soluble hydrated Zr oxide, whereas chlorination yields mixed Si and Zr tetrachlorides which are separated by distillation. Removal of the Hf from the Zr takes place through counter current liq-liq extraction (Ref 33), For this purpose the oxide or the tetrachloride is dissolved in dil hydrochloric acid to which ammonium thiocyanate is added as a complexing agent. The organic extracting phase is methyl isobutylketone... 

Silicones have been extracted from environmental samples with solvents such as hexane, diethyl ether, methyl isobutylketone, ethyl acetate, and THF, using either sequential or Soxhlet techniques (690-695). Silicones of a wide range of molecular weights and polarities are soluble in THF. This feature, coupled with its volatility and miscibility with water, makes THF an excellent solvent for the extraction of silicones from wet samples, ie, soils and sediments. Trace levels of silicones extracted from environmental samples have been measured by a number of techniques, including atomic absorption spectroscopy (AA), inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), pyrolysis GC-MS, as well as H and Si NMR spectroscopy (674,684,692,696-700). The use of separation techniques, such as gel permeation and high pressure liquid chromatography interfaced with sensitive, silicon-specific AA or ICP detectors, has been particularly advantageous for the analysis of silicones in environmental extracts (685,701-704). 

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