ABSTRACT
This chapter briefly discusses the application, chemical properties and physical properties of ethylene glycol. It presents detailed information on the air analysis and analysis of aqueous and nonaqueous samples of ethylene glycol. Ethylene glycol is used as antifreeze in cooling and heating systems and in hydraulic brake fluids; colorless liquid; sweet taste; hygroscopic. It is highly soluble in water, lower alcohols, acetone, and pyridine. In the analysis, aqueous samples are directly injected onto a gas chromatography (GC) column and determined by a flame ionization detector (FID). In the air analysis, air is drawn through a glass fiber filter and then through a sorbent tube containing silica gel. Ethylene glycol is desorbed out from silica gel with 2" isopropanol in water. The analyte in eluant is determined by GC-FID (NIOSH Method). Ethylene glycol and its glycol ether derivatives are desorbed with diethyl ether and analyzed by GC.
