ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 7

Improved Recovery and Stability of Ethanol in Automated Headspace Analysis
Christmore, DS
Production chemist and toxicology staff specialist, Bio-Science Laboratories, CA

Doshier, LA
Production chemist and toxicology staff specialist, Bio-Science Laboratories, CA

Kelly, RC
Willow Toxicology Group, CA

(Received 3 October 1983; accepted 10 January 1984)

Abstract

Solutions are reported here for two problems in automated headspace gas chromatographic analysis for ethanol. The first is the catalytic oxidation of ethanol by oxyhemoglobin, a process that is limited only by the amount of oxygen in the sealed vessel. This reaction is prevented by the addition of sodium dithionite. The other problem, the lack of a suitable salting-out agent, led to the selection of ammonium sulfate, which improved recovery of ethanol as well as enhancing method precision. A procedure incorporating these improvements is described.

Keywords:
toxicology, alcohol, chromatographic analysis

Paper ID: JFS11770J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS11770J
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