Document Type
Thesis
Date of Award
6-30-1958
Degree Name
Master of Science in Chemical Engineering - (M.S.)
Department
Chemical Engineering
First Advisor
Saul I. Kreps
Second Advisor
C. L. Mantell
Third Advisor
George C. Keeffe
Abstract
This paper presents a spectrophotometric method of analysis of mixtures of the isomers of pure nitrotoluene, which are free of the dinitro-compounds and other impurities. The analysis is made in the ultraviolet region with a Beckman DU Spectrophotometer. Graphical methods are developed for both binary and tertiary mixtures. The graphs, which form the basis of the method, represent the theoretical absorbancies for various mixtures of the isomers. From these graphs the concentrations in an unknown mixture can be read directly if the absorbancies, at specified wavelengths, are known.
This analytical method is based on the fact that the absorbancies of the isomers in a mixture are additive. Binary mixtures are analyzed on this basis, by the algebraic method. The algebraic solution of three simultaneous equations, however, is time consuming and not practical for the graphical solution of tertiary mixtures. Therefore, tertiary mixtures are analyzed at the common, or isosbestic, point of two of the isomers. At this wavelength, the pair of isomers, with the common absorbance, react as a single component, in all proportions. This permits three components solutions to be analyzed by the simple two component method.
The primary importance of this method is analysis of pure nitrotoluene during the distillation which is performed to remove the meta isomer, after the removal of other impurities.
Recommended Citation
Dempsey, John Thomas, "Ultraviolet analysis of mixtures of o-, p- and m-nitrotoluene" (1958). Theses. 3106.
https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/theses/3106
