DEFINITION
Condensation product of saturated liquid fatty alcohols.
Content: Minimum 90 per cent of (2RS)-2-octyldodecan-1-ol (C20H42O; Mr 298.6), the
remainder consisting mainly of related alcohols.
CHARACTERS
Appearance: Clear, colourless or yellowish, oily liquid.
Solubility: Practically insoluble in water, miscible with ethanol (96 per cent).
Relative density: About 0.840.
Refractive index: About 1.455.
IDENTIFICATION
A. Hydroxyl value (see Tests).
B. Thin-layer chromatography.
TESTS
Acidity or alkalinity: Mix 5.0 g thoroughly for 1 min with a mixture of 0.1 ml of
bromothymol blue solution, 2 ml of heptane and 10 ml of water. If the aqueous layer
is blue, not more than 0.15 ml of 0.01 M hydrochloric acid is required to change the
colour of the indicator to yellow. If the aqueous layer is yellow, add 0.45 ml of
0.01 M sodium hydroxide and shake vigorously. After standing to ensure complete
separation, the aqueous layer is blue.
Optical rotation: - 0.10° to + 0.10°.
Hydroxyl value: 175 to 190.
Iodine value: Maximum 8.0.
Peroxide value: Maximum 5.0.
Saponification value: Maximum 5.0.
Heavy metals: Maximum 10 ppm.
Water: Maximum 0.5 per cent, determined on 2.00 g.
Sulphated ash: Maximum 0.1 per cent, determined on 1.0 g.
ASSAY: By Gas chromatography
