Purification of aqueous ethylene glycol.
Reagent-grade ethylene glycol has been shown to contain substantial amounts of aldehydes, peroxides, iron, and uv-absorbing hydrocarbons. These impurities can be removed by reduction with sodium borohydride, dilution with H2O, passing through a train of four columns, and filtering through a 0.45-micron filter. The product is stable for at least several months and perhaps much longer; storage under nitrogen in acid-washed dark bottles is preferable. Ten liters of 25% (v/v) aqueous ethylene glycol can easily be purified in about 1 week using equipment commonly available in a biochemical laboratory. This purification is also applicable to aqueous glycerol.
D000447:Aldehydes / Q000032:analysis; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis; D004080:Dihydroorotase / Q000032:analysis; D004340:Drug Contamination / Q000032:analysis; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D005026:Ethylene Glycols / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000592:standards; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis; D010545:Peroxides / Q000032:analysis; D011048:Polarography; D012996:Solutions; D013053:Spectrophotometry
D000447:Aldehydes; D005026:Ethylene Glycols; D010545:Peroxides; D012996:Solutions; D003300:Copper; D007501:Iron; D004080:Dihydroorotase