ASTM D4252-89 (2017) PDF

Full title and description

ASTM D4252-89(2017) — Standard Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Alcohol Ethoxylates and Alkylphenol Ethoxylates. This historical ASTM standard specifies sampling and analytical procedures used to characterize alcohol ethoxylates and alkylphenol ethoxylates for use as nonionic (and, when sulfated, anionic) surfactants in household and industrial cleaners.

Abstract

This standard collects a set of chemical test methods and sampling procedures for alcohol ethoxylates and alkylphenol ethoxylates, including determinations of water/moisture, refractive index, pH, acidity/basicity, hydroxyl number, cloud point, iodine number, ash and iron content, ethylene oxide content, and polyethylene glycols. It is intended for quality control, formulation verification, and specification testing in surfactant production and laboratory analysis.

General information

• Status: Reapproved/confirmed edition — D4252-89 reapproved as D4252-89(2017); listed as the current approved edition as of January 1, 2017.
• Publication date: Approved January 1, 2017 (published February 2017 in ASTM Annual Book of Standards listings).
• Publisher: ASTM International (formerly American Society for Testing and Materials).
• ICS / categories: 71.080.60 (Alcohols; ethers — surfactants / detergents related chemical analysis).
• Edition / version: D4252-89(2017) — original designation D4252-89 with reapproval/technical confirmation in 2017 (document sometimes listed with revised suffixes such as R17).
• Number of pages: 5 pages (concise collection of test methods and tables).

Scope

These test methods cover procedures for sampling liquids and solids and for performing chemical analyses relevant to the characterization of alcohol ethoxylates and alkylphenol ethoxylates with respect to suitability for intended detergent and surfactant uses. Specific determinations include moisture content, refractive index, pH, acidity/basicity, hydroxyl number, cloud point, iodine number, ash and iron, ethylene oxide content, and polyethylene glycol content; SI units are the standard for reported values. The standard does not address all possible safety concerns and recommends use of reagent-grade chemicals and appropriate safety practices.

Key topics and requirements

• Sampling procedures for liquid and solid ethoxylated products.
• Moisture (water) determination methods suitable for surfactant materials.
• Refractive index determinations (sections referenced for liquids and solids).
• pH and acidity/basicity measurement procedures.
• Hydroxyl number (multiple methods) for characterization of ethoxylation.
• Cloud point and iodine number test methods.
• Ash and iron determinations to assess inorganic contamination.
• Ethylene oxide content and polyethylene glycol determinations (for quality and specification purposes).
• Requirement to use reagent-grade chemicals and to report results in SI units; includes precision/repeatability guidance.

Typical use and users

Primary users are industrial and commercial chemical laboratories, quality control and R&D teams at surfactant and detergent manufacturers, contract testing laboratories, and regulatory or specification writers who need standardized methods to verify composition and key chemical properties of ethoxylated surfactants. The standard is used for batch release testing, formulation verification, and comparative analyses between suppliers.

Related standards

This document is maintained under ASTM Committee D12 (Subcommittee D12.12 on Analysis and Specifications of Soaps, Synthetics, Detergents). Related ASTM test methods and standards for surfactants and detergents (other D12 series methods dealing with surface activity, foam, and compositional analyses) are commonly used alongside D4252; users should consult the ASTM D12 listings and the Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Volume covering soaps and detergents, for complementary methods and cross-references.

Keywords

alcohol ethoxylates; alkylphenol ethoxylates; surfactants; detergents; chemical analysis; hydroxyl number; ethylene oxide; cloud point; refractive index; moisture; ash; pH.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ASTM D4252-89(2017) is a concise collection of standardized test methods for the chemical analysis of alcohol ethoxylates and alkylphenol ethoxylates, originally designated D4252-89 and reapproved/confirmed in 2017. It groups sampling procedures and specific analytical methods used in surfactant quality control.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers sampling of liquid and solid ethoxylates and specific analytical determinations including water/moisture, refractive index, pH, acidity/basicity, hydroxyl number, cloud point, iodine number, ash and iron, ethylene oxide content, and polyethylene glycol content, with guidance on reagents, units (SI), and precision.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Chemical analysts in manufacturing QC labs, R&D scientists working on surfactant formulations, independent test labs, and standards/specification writers in the detergents and cleaning products industry.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The document appears as D4252-89 with a 2017 reapproval (listed as D4252-89(2017) or D4252-89R17 in catalogs). Users should consult ASTM International for any superseding revisions or newer methods; as of the 2017 reapproval the D4252-89 text remains the approved edition.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It is published within the ASTM D12 portfolio (soaps, synthetics, detergents) and is maintained by Subcommittee D12.12. It is one of several ASTM test-method standards addressing surfactant composition and properties and is commonly used with other D12 methods.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Alcohol ethoxylates, alkylphenol ethoxylates, surfactants, chemical analysis, hydroxyl number, ethylene oxide, cloud point, refractive index, moisture.