Analysis of poly(vinyl chloride) additives by supercritical fluid extraction and gas chromatography

The use of supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) is growing, with an expanding range of applications in many different fields as a consequence of its advantages compared with traditional extraction methods. In order to develop an analytical method to determine dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and dioctyl phthalate (DOP) traces (<20 ppm) in flexible poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) formulations, a maximum efficiency in the extractive process and an adequate separative system are needed to avoid interferences between these two plasticizers and other additives that could be present at high concentrations in flexible PVC formulations. In order to determine the optimum SFE conditions, the extraction time, temperature and pressure were controlled. The separation and quantitation of individual components in the PVC extracts were carried out off-line by using a semicapillary column in gas chromatography (GC). Samples with different DOP content (41.18%, 33.33% and 23.08%) and DBP content (41.18%), as well as samples with both plasticizers (20.59% DOP and 20.59% DBP) were prepared. Some other samples were also prepared to study detection limits for these two PVC additives. Recoveries and reproducibilities were studied in every sample. Finally, this method was compared with Soxhlet liquid extraction. Determination by gravimetric analysis of the total extracted material was found to be particularly suitable for PVC. This study demonstrates the potential of SFE to shorten extraction times with similar or even better extraction efficiencies compared with traditional liquid methods.