ASTM D6142-21

Standard Test Method for Analysis of Phenol by Capillary Gas Chromatography

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This test method is suitable for setting specifications on phenol and for use as an internal quality control tool where phenol is produced or is used in a manufacturing process. It may also be used in development or research work involving phenol. It is generally applied to determining those commonly occurring impurities such as mesityl oxide, cumene, hydroxyacetone, acetone, α-methylstyrene, 2-methylbenzofuran, and acetophenone.  
5.2 Purity is commonly reported by subtracting the determined expected impurities from 100.00. However, a gas chromatographic analysis cannot determine absolute purity if water is present or unknown components are contained within the material being examined.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of known impurities in phenol by gas chromatography (GC). It is generally meant for the analysis of phenol of 99.9 % or greater purity.  
1.2 This test method has been found applicable over impurity concentrations up to 70 mg/kg. Users of this method believe it is linear over a wider range. The limit of detection (LOD) is 1.7 mg/kg and the limit of quantitation (LOQ) is 5.8 mg/kg.
Note 1: LOD is defined in 7.1 as part of the method setup. The values above were calculated based on the ILS data for acetone, acetophenone, α-methylstyrene, and 2-methylbenzofuran in Table 3.  
1.3 In determining the conformance of the test results using this method to applicable specifications, results shall be rounded off in accordance with the rounding-off method of Practice E29.  
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific hazard statements, see Section 9.  
1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Oct-2021
• ICS: 71.040.50 - Physicochemical methods of analysis
• Technical Committee: D16 - Aromatic, Industrial, Specialty and Related Chemicals
• Drafting Committee: D16.02 - Oxygenated Aromatics

Relations

• Refers: ASTM D3852-20 - Standard Practice for Sampling and Handling Phenol, Cresols, and Cresylic Acid
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2020

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D6142 − 21
Standard Test Method for
1
Analysis of Phenol by Capillary Gas Chromatography
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6142; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope* 2. Referenced Documents
2
1.1 This test method covers the determination of known 2.1 ASTM Standards:
impurities in phenol by gas chromatography (GC). It is D3852 Practice for Sampling and Handling Phenol, Cresols,
generally meant for the analysis of phenol of 99.9 % or greater and Cresylic Acid
purity. D4307 Practice for Preparation of Liquid Blends for Use as
Analytical Standards
1.2 This test method has been found applicable over impu-
D4790 Terminology ofAromatic Hydrocarbons and Related
rity concentrations up to 70 mg/kg. Users of this method
Chemicals
believe it is linear over a wider range. The limit of detection
D6809 Guide for Quality Control and Quality Assurance
(LOD) is 1.7 mg/kg and the limit of quantitation (LOQ) is
Procedures for Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Related Ma-
5.8 mg⁄kg.
terials
NOTE 1—LOD is defined in 7.1 as part of the method setup. The values
E29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to
above were calculated based on the ILS data for acetone, acetophenone,
Determine Conformance with Specifications
α-methylstyrene, and 2-methylbenzofuran in Table 3.
E355 Practice for Gas ChromatographyTerms and Relation-
1.3 In determining the conformance of the test results using
ships
this method to applicable specifications, results shall be
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
rounded off in accordance with the rounding-off method of
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
Practice E29.
E1510 Practice for Installing Fused Silica Open Tubular
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as Capillary Columns in Gas Chromatographs
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this 2.2 Other Document:
standard. OSHA Regulations, 29 CFR paragraphs 1910.1000 and
3
1910.1200
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3. Terminology
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.1 See Terminology D4790 for definitions of terms used in
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
this test method.
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
For specific hazard statements, see Section 9.
4. Summary of Test Method
1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard- 4.1 A known amount of an internal standard is added to a
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the sample of phenol. The prepared sample is mixed and analyzed
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- by a gas chromatograph equipped with a flame ionization
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical detector (FID).The peak area of each impurity and the internal
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D16 on contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Aromatic, Industrial, Specialty and Related Chemicals and is the direct responsi- Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
bility of Subcommittee D16.02 on Oxygenated Aromatics. the ASTM website.
3
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2021. Published November 2021. Originally AvailablefromU.S.GovernmentPrintingOfficeSuperintendentofDocuments,
approved in 1997. Last previous edition approved in 2016 as D6142 – 16. DOI: 732 N. Capitol St., NW, Mail Stop: SDE, Washington, DC 20401, http://
10.1520/D6142-21. www.access.gpo.gov.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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D6142 − 21
standard is measured. The amount of each impurity is calcu- 8. Reagents
lated from the ratio of the peak area of the internal standard
8.1 Purity of Reagent—Reagent grade chemicals shall be
versus the peak area of the impurity. Results are reported in
used in all tests. Unless otherwise indicated, it is intended that
milligrams per kilogram.
all reagents shall conform to the spec
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D6142 − 16 D6142 − 21
Standard Test Method for
1
Analysis of Phenol by Capillary Gas Chromatography
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6142; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope*
1.1 This test method covers the determination of known impurities in phenol by gas chromatography (GC). It is generally meant
for the analysis of phenol of 99.9 % or greater purity.
1.2 This test method has been found applicable over impurity concentrations of 15 up to 70 mg/kg. Users of this method believe
it is linear over a wider range. The limit of detection (LOD) is 1.7 mg/kg and the limit of quantitation (LOQ) is 5.8 mg ⁄kg.
NOTE 1—LOD is defined in 7.1 as part of the method setup. The values above were calculated based on the ILS data for acetone, acetophenone,
α-methylstyrene, and 2-methylbenzofuran in Table 3.
1.3 In determining the conformance of the test results using this method to applicable specifications, results shall be rounded off
in accordance with the rounding-off method of Practice E29.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific hazard statements, see Section 9.
1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D3852 Practice for Sampling and Handling Phenol, Cresols, and Cresylic Acid
D4307 Practice for Preparation of Liquid Blends for Use as Analytical Standards
D4790 Terminology of Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Related Chemicals
D6809 Guide for Quality Control and Quality Assurance Procedures for Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Related Materials
E29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications
E355 Practice for Gas Chromatography Terms and Relationships
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D16 on Aromatic Hydrocarbons Aromatic, Industrial, Specialty and Related Chemicals and is the direct
responsibility of Subcommittee D16.02 on Oxygenated Aromatics.
Current edition approved June 1, 2016Nov. 1, 2021. Published June 2016November 2021. Originally approved in 1997. Last previous edition approved in 20122016 as
D6142D6142 – 16. – 12. DOI: 10.1520/D6142-16.10.1520/D6142-21.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D6142 − 21
E1510 Practice for Installing Fused Silica Open Tubular Capillary Columns in Gas Chromatographs
2.2 Other Document:
3
OSHA Regulations, 29 CFR paragraphs 1910.1000 and 1910.1200
3. Terminology
3.1 See Terminology D4790 for definitiondefinitions of terms used in this test method.
4. Summary of Test Method
4.1 A known amount of an internal standard is added to a sample of phenol. The prepared sample is mixed and analyzed by a gas
chromatograph equipped with a flame ionization detector (FID). The peak area of each impurity and the internal standard is
measured. The amount of each impurity is calculated from the ratio of the peak area of the internal standard versus the peak area
of the impurity. Results are reported in milligrams per kilogram.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 This test method is suitable for setting specifications on phenol and for use as an in
...