Quantitative Determination of Isomeric Phenols

Abstract

Gas-chromatographic conditions are reported for the quantitative analysis of mixtures of each of seven groups of isomeric monosubstituted phenols and for α- and β-naphthol. Tris (2,4-xylenyl) phosphate is a suitable liquid phase for the more volatile phenols (cresols, fluorophenols and chlorophenols), but its volatility makes it unsuitable for the higher-boiling phenols. Both diethylenegylcol adipate polyester and polyethylenegylcol monostearate, which can be used at higher temperatures, are suitable for the methoxyphenols. For the nitrophenols, cyanophenols, dihydroxybenzenes and naphthols, most of which are not only very high-boiling but also strongly polar substances, the problems of peak-tailing and long retention times are surmounted by using very low concentrations of diethylenegylcol adipate polyester on glass beads.