Very low concentrations of ethylene glycol in air or other gases are detected by passing a sample through a glass tube with three partitioned compartments containing reagents which successively convert the ethylene glycol vapor into a colored compound

Helm, C.

Mosier, B.

Verostko, C. E.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

February 1970
	 Brief 70-10031 
NASA TECH BRIEF 
.-	 -	 ---
NASA Tech Briefs announce new technology derived from the U.S. space program. They are issued to encourage commercial 
application. Tech Briefs are available on a subscription basis from the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical 
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- be directed to the Technology Utilization Division, NASA, Code UT, Washington, D.C. 20546. 
Colorometric Detection of Ethylene Glycol Vapor
Glass Tube 
Sample. 
- I
INXI.XX
/ I / 2
VJI... 
Periodic Acid	 Catechol Derivative	 Silica Gel +Sulfuric Acid 
A colorometric method has been devised for the 
detection of very low concentrations of ethylene 
glycol vapor in air or other gases. Ethylene glycol is 
a common antifreeze and industrial solvent; its vapor 
is toxic at relatively low concentrations. Thus a simple 
quantitative test for this vapor woukd be useful in 
detecting leaks from systems containing the fluid. 
The illustration shows an experimental apparatus 
which has been used in the laboratory to provide a 
qualitative colorometric indication of the presence 
of ethylene glycol vapor in a gas sample. Further work 
would be required to establish parameters for obtain-
ing a quantitative estimation of the vapor concentra-
tion in the sample. 
The experimental apparatus consists of a glass tube 
with three partitioned compartments containing 
reagents which successively convert the ethylene 
glycol vapor' into a colored -compound. In the first 
compartment the vapor comes into contact with peri-
odic acid which oxidizes the glycol to formaldehyde. 
In the second compartment the formaldehyde vapor
reacts with a dimethyl ether derivative of catechol 
to form a diarylmethylene compound. This compound 
passes into the third compartment where it is absorbed 
on a highly pure silica gel substrate impregnated with 
sulfuric acid which converts the compound to a 
colored p-quinoidal product. 
This series of reactions is highly specific for the 
detection of ethylene glycol even in the presence of a 
variety of compounds including aldehydes, ketones, 
alcohols, ammonia, benzene, toluene, and. trichloro-
ethylene. The test could be quantified by correlating 
the intensity of the color band or its rate of movement 
in the silica gel with the concentration of the ethylene 
glycol vapor in the sample. 
Note: 
Requests for further information may be directed to: 
Technology Utilization Officer 
Manned Spacecraft Center, Code BM7 
Houston, Texas 77058 
- Reference: TSP70-10031
(continued overleaf) 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National 	 Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States 	 - information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
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https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19700000030 2020-03-16T23:59:19+00:00Z
Patent status: 
No patent action is contemplated by NASA. 
Source: Charles E. Verostko 
Manned Spacecraft Center 
and Dr. Benjamin Mosier and Carole Helm of 
Institute for Research 
under contract to 
Manned Spacecraft Center 
(MSC-13222)
[11 
Brief 70-10031	 Category 03


Colorometric detection of ethylene glycol vapor

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