CHROMATOGRAPHIC METHODS FOR THE DETERMINATION OF ALKYLKETENE DIMER INPULP AND PAPER MATRICES

Chromatographic procedures for the determination of alkylketene dimer (AKD) and stearone were evaluated. The best results were obtained when AKD was converted into its ketone form before determination by GC. Bo und AKD in paper samples is best removed by digestion of the paper wit h either hydrochloric acid or sodium carbonate. A separation scheme ba sed on solid-phase extraction was developed for the determination of h ydrolysed AKD in deposits from alkaline paper mills, As different AKD emulsions have different chromatographic patterns, it is recommended t hat standards be prepared from the same AKD that was used in the sizin g process. The GC determination of AKD and stearone can be significant ly expedited by using Soxtec extraction (rather than Soxhlet extractio n) and by employing short capillary GC columns.