Separation of T-MAZ ethoxylated sorbitan fatty acid esters by reverse phase chromatography

Summary The method for determination of T-MAZ ethoxylated sorbitan fatty acid esters is described. This work demonstrates that with a less retentive C₈ alkyl bonded phase packing, reverse phase chromatography can be used to analyze nonionic polymer mixtures with a molecular weight range of 900 to 1500. Using a gradient elution, a complete separation of T-MAZ oligomers was achieved, comparable to that obtained by Supercritical Fluid Chromatography (SFC). Isocratic elution is used to quantify T-MAZ and the detection limit is 321 ppm, which is acceptable for polymers with high molecular weights and no UV-absorbing chromophores. This work also shows the comparison of the separations of T-MAZ using gel permeation chromatography and reverse phase chromatography.