Plasticisers by Solvent and Thermal Extraction

In the aforementioned round-robin [47] also solvent-and heat-extraction methods for plasticiser determinations were compared. Materials were chosen which do not exhibit polymer degradation in the range of plasticiser loss at 300°C (Table 6.27). 

As may be seen from Table 6.29, still wide use is being made of conventional exhaustive i.e. non-selective) extractions, such as Soxhlet and reflux extractions. Only four laboratories exercised with the use of ASE , none reported SFE or MAE. The table shows the need for optimisation of ASE conditions. 

Sample Material Visual appearance Plasticiser Concentration 

Sample Norm Solvent Extraction time Drying 

The selective determination of n-butylbenzene-sulfonamide in PA 12 by means of dissolution (HFIP)/precipitation (MTBE), followed by GC analysis of the main component of this technical product, yielded 11.87 wt.% (a =0.15 wt.%). There is a good correlation between PyGC-MS results (13.15 wt.%, (7 = 0.13 wt.%) and the mean TGA results (Aw = 12.86 wt.%), which reflect exhaustive thermal extraction in the given conditions. 

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