Gas Chromatographic Method for the Determination of Trace Quantities of Diethyl Malonate in Ethanol

Abstract : This report presents and experimental study conducted to determine a method for analytically detecting and determining trace quantities of diethyl malonate (DEM) in ethyl alcohol using a gas chromatograph equipped with a flame ionization detector. The method developed proved to be effective for determining trace quantities at a concentration (mean) range of 21-840 ng. A linear fit was obtained at this range with an average slope of 1.4032 + or - 0.0063 x 10 to the -7th micro g/au and an intercept of 0.0359 + or - 0.0359 micro g. The correlation coefficient was 0.9996 + or - 0.0009. Based on replicate injections, the accuracy of this method was within + or - 2.4%. Keywords: Chemical analysis, Gas chromatographic method, Diethyl malonate, Ethanol, Ethyl alcohol.