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Title: ANALYSIS BY GC-MS OF BRANCHED ESTERS USED IN VARIOUS INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS

Author
item Knothe, Gerhard

Submitted to: Annual Meeting and Expo of the American Oil Chemists' Society
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/28/2000
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Branched esters of various kinds are well-known to be suitable for lubricant and other industrial applications. They often have desirable low-temperature properties which enhance their applicability for these uses. However, sparse information on their analytical characterization has been available in the literature. Here it is shown that gas chromatography - mass spectrometry with positive chemical ionization mode and methane as reagent gas is an efficient method for characterization of these compounds. Classes of compounds that were studied included di-Guerbet esters (derived from Guerbet acids and Guerbet alcohols) as well as diol and diacid diesters (derived from diols or diacids by reaction with monohydric alcohols or esters). The building blocks of the present compounds can be easily identified by corresponding fragments under the conditions used here. Some of the studied compounds exhibit other interesting features such as McLafferty rearrangement fragments at high m/z values.