ASTM D4252-89(2009)

Standard Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Alcohol Ethoxylates and Alkylphenol Ethoxylates

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Alcohol ethoxylates and alkylphenol ethoxylates are important surfactants in household and industrial cleaners. They may be used as either nonionic surfactants or sulfated and used as anionic surfactants. Careful control of the ethoxylate characteristics is desired as variations may result in either desirable or undesirable end-use properties.
SCOPE
1.1 These test methods cover the various test methods used to evaluate those properties pertinent to the characterization of alcohol ethoxylates and alkylphenol ethoxylates with respect to suitability for desired uses.
1.2 The procedures for sampling and analysis appear in the following order:
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.4 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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Material Safety Data Sheets are available for reagents and materials. Review them for hazards prior to usage. Specific hazard statements appear in Section 5 and Note 1 and Note 3.  
26.1 This method describes a procedure for the determination of polyethylene glycols in ethoxylated detergent range alcohols that have ratios of ethoxy groups to alkyl groups of three or more.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 30-Sep-2009
• ICS: 71.080.60 - Alcohols. Ethers
• Technical Committee: D12 - Soaps and Other Detergents
• Drafting Committee: D12.12 - Analysis and Specifications of Soaps, Synthetics, Detergents and their Components

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D4252-89(2003) - Standard Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Alcohol Ethoxylates and Alkylphenol Ethoxylates
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2009
• Referred By: ASTM E1899-23 - Standard Test Method for Hydroxyl Groups Using Reaction with <emph type="ital">p</emph >-Toluenesulfonyl Isocyanate (TSI) and Potentiometric Titration with Tetrabutylammonium Hydroxide
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2009

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: D4252 − 89 (Reapproved 2009)
Standard Test Methods for
Chemical Analysis of Alcohol Ethoxylates and Alkylphenol
1
Ethoxylates
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4252; 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 These test methods cover the various test methods used 2.1 ASTM Standards:
to evaluate those properties pertinent to the characterization of D459 Terminology Relating to Soaps and Other Detergents
alcoholethoxylatesandalkylphenolethoxylateswithrespectto D482 Test Method for Ash from Petroleum Products
suitability for desired uses. D1068 Test Methods for Iron in Water
D1172 Guide for pH of Aqueous Solutions of Soaps and
1.2 The procedures for sampling and analysis appear in the
Detergents
following order:
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
Sections
D1209 Test Method for Color of Clear Liquids (Platinum-
Sampling
Liquids 6 Cobalt Scale)
Solids 7
D1218 Test Method for Refractive Index and Refractive
Methods of Chemical Analysis
Dispersion of Hydrocarbon Liquids
Water or moisture 8
Refractive index 9 and 10 D1613 Test Method for Acidity in Volatile Solvents and
pH 11
Chemical Intermediates Used in Paint, Varnish, Lacquer,
Acidity or basicity 12 and 13
and Related Products
Hydroxyl number 14-20
Cloud point 21 D1959 Test Method for Iodine Value of Drying Oils and
3
Iodine number 22
Fatty Acids (Withdrawn 2006)
Ash 23
D2024 Test Method for Cloud Point of Nonionic Surfactants
Iron 24
Ethylene oxide content 25 D2959 Test Method for Ethylene Oxide Content of Poly-
Polyethylene glycols 26-32
ethoxylated Nonionic Surfactants
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
E180 Practice for Determining the Precision of ASTM
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
Methods for Analysis and Testing of Industrial and Spe-
3
standard.
cialty Chemicals (Withdrawn 2009)
E200 Practice for Preparation, Standardization, and Storage
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
of Standard and Reagent Solutions for ChemicalAnalysis
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
E203 Test Method for Water Using Volumetric Karl Fischer
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
Titration
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
E394 Test Method for Iron in Trace Quantities Using the
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. Material Safety
1,10-Phenanthroline Method
Data Sheets are available for reagents and materials. Review
them for hazards prior to usage. Specific hazard statements
3. Significance and Use
appear in Section 5 and Note 1 and Note 3.
3.1 Alcohol ethoxylates and alkylphenol ethoxylates are
important surfactants in household and industrial cleaners.
1
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D12 on
2
Soaps and Other Detergents and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
D12.12 on Analysis and Specifications of Soaps, Synthetics, Detergents and their contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Components. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2009. Published December 2009. Originally the ASTM website.
3
approved in 1983. Last previous edition approved in 2003 as D4252 – 89(2003). The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
DOI: 10.1520/D4252-89R09. www.astm.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D4252 − 89 (2009)
Theymaybeusedaseithernonionicsurfactantsorsulfatedand 10. Precision
used as anionic surfactants. Careful control of the ethoxylate
10.1 The following criteria should be used for judging the
characteristics is desired as variations may result in either 5,6
acceptability of results:
desirable or undesirable end-use properties.
10.1.1 Repeatability (Single Analyst)—The standard devia-
tion of results (each the average of duplicates), obtained by the
4. Purity of Reagents
same analyst on different days, has been estimated to be
4.1 Reagent-grade chemicals shall be used in all tests. 0.00021 units absolute at 36 df. Two such averages should be
Unless otherwise indicated, it is intended that all reagents shall considered suspect (95 % confidence level) if they differ by
conform to the specifications of the Committee on Analytical more than 0.00059 units absolute.
R
...