A novel vapor permeation-stepwise injection (VP-SWI) method for the determination of methanol and ethanol in biodiesel samples is discussed. In the current study, stepwise injection analysis was successfully combined with voltammetric detection and vapor permeation. This method is based on the separation of methanol and ethanol from a sample using a vapor permeation module (VPM) with a selective polymer membrane based on poly(phenylene isophtalamide) (PA) containing high amounts of a residual solvent. After the evaporation into the headspace of the VPM, methanol and ethanol were transported, by gas bubbling, through a PA membrane to a mixing chamber equipped with a voltammetric detector. Ethanol was selectively detected at +0.19 V, and both compounds were detected at +1.20 V. Current subtractions (using a correction factor) were used for the selective determination of methanol. A linear range between 0.05 and 0.5% (m/m) was established for each analyte. The limits of detection were estimated at 0.02% (m/m) for ethanol and methanol. The sample throughput was 5 samples h-1. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of biodiesel samples.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)666-672
Number of pages7
JournalTalanta
Volume148
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Feb 2016

    Research areas

  • Biodiesel, Cyclic voltammetry, Ethanol, Flow analysis, Methanol, Vapor permeation

    Scopus subject areas

  • Analytical Chemistry

ID: 93276896