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1,4 Dioxane and the Environment

by Lori Dolata, Regional Marketing Manager for GC and GC-MS, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.

13 Jun 2016
Lois Manton-O'Byrne, PhD
Executive Editor

Industry news

I recently came across a National Science Foundation video about 1,4 dioxane in North Carolina’s Cape Fear River Basin. This compound is a synthetic industrial chemical that comes in the form of clear liquid with a mild ether-like scent, and it can be detected using gas chromatography . Isomers (1,2 and 1,3) of dioxane exist, but they are rare, so the chemical is often referred to simply as dioxane.

It is produced by dehydrating diethylene glycol, most often using concentrated sulfuric acid (ca. 5%) as the dehydration catalyst. Dioxane has been detected in groundwater all over the U.S., and is classified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a likely carcinogen.

Dioxane is used in the formulation or manufacturing of various household or industrial products. Some of its common uses include:

  • A stabilizer in chlorinated solvents (link to USGS information page) such as trichloroethane
  • A solvent for extracting animal and vegetable oils
  • A wetting and dispersing agent in textile processes
  • An ingredient in paints, varnishes, adhesives, cosmetics and pesticides
  • A purifying agent in pharmaceutical manufacturing

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Gas ChromatographyGas chromatography (GC) is an analytical technique used to separate and quantitate mixtures of small and volatile compounds. Gas chromatographs or GC systems include components such as GC columns, detectors, pumps and autosamplers. Choose from packed or capillary GC columns, flame ionization (FID), photoionization (PID) electron capture detectors and selective or non-selective detectors. Find the best gas chromatographs in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Environmental Monitoring and TestingEnvironmental monitoring and testing uses handheld portable analyzers, kits, spectrometers or chromatography systems for air, water, soil, food and other sample testing. Useful features of analyzers such as BOD and COD include portability, easy calibration, automation and sensitivity.  Environmental test kits for pH, water, moisture, etc, should be accurate, sensitive, reliable, fast and easy to use.GC-MS GC-MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) instruments and equipment are used to separate, quantify and identify mixtures of small and volatile compounds, such as polycyclic aromatics, fatty acids and alcohols. Often used in drug detection, forensic investigation and environmental analysis for pesticides and contaminants, GC-MS is a powerful addition to your lab’s analytical capabilities. GC-MS/MS instruments equipped with a qTOF or triple quadrupole analyzers can give greater sensitivity and resolution to your analysis. Find the best GC-MS instruments and equipment in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Environmental ContaminationContaminants in the environment are harmful chemicals that are present in the air, land and water. These include pesticides, pharmaceuticals, persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and many more.Environmental AnalysisEnvironmental analysis describes a variety of tests that determine the effect of chemicals, processes and particulates such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have on the environment.

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