A rugged and reliable choice for the analysis of glycols in water

From airplane and runway deicing to hydraulic fracturing operations, glycols are common chemicals used in industry, and as a result, chemical and environmental laboratories often test samples for their presence. However, the most frequently used sample introduction technique—direct aqueous injection—puts a significant demand on the analytical column and injection port liner. The columns best suited for water injections employ polyethylene glycol (PEG) stationary phases. PEG phases offer a unique selectivity, and their polar nature is compatible with an aqueous injection. An evaluation of ethylene glycol (EG) and propylene glycol (PG) response on PEG columns from a variety of vendors was conducted under optimized conditions and is presented here.