AN ELECTROCHEMICAL METHOD FOR THE DETERMINATION OF RESIDUAL STYRENE IN POLYSTYRENE

A rapid electroanalytical method for the determination of residual sty rene in polystyrene is described. The sample of polymer was dissolved in toluene and, following the addition of 10% DMF and electrolyte, a s quare-wave voltammogram was recorded at a gold microdisc electrode (ra dius, 6 mu m). A standard addition technique was used to relate the pe ak current to the styrene concentration in solution and, hence, the st yrene content of the polymer. The method gave results which are simila r to those of the accepted standard procedure. It does not, however, r equire the precipitation of the polymer and hence is quicker and more convenient.