PYROLYSIS-GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY OF HERCOSETT 125 FINISH ON WOOL

A sensitive and accurate method has been developed for measuring the l evel of shrinkage control agent, Hercosett 125, on wool that takes abo ut two hours per sample. The method is based on pyrolysis-gas chromato graphy, wherein a small sample (200 to 240 micrograms) is pyrolyzed at 764C and conveyed to a GC capillary column for detection of cyclopent anone, the signal pyrolysate of adipic acid. A linear correlation exis ts between the Hercosett content on wool and the ratio of the cyclopen tanone peak and a nearby reference peak arising from wool protein. Sam ples as small as 20 micrograms have been analyzed. This method is limi ted in scope to Hercosett treated wool. It cannot be used to analyze b lends of wool and nylon fibers unless used as an adjunct to ASTM Metho d D 629-88.