Alternative solvent system for iodine value determination

165-167Due to carcinogenicity, the use of carbon tetrachloride has been banned in the research and analysis laboratories in a number of countries. Hence, a suitable solvent system needs to he investigated and brought into practice for determination of iodine values. The alternative solvent (cyclohexane) recommended <span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-language: HI">by AOCS cd 1b-87, forms emulsions which are difficult to titrate, effecting the precision of the results. Thus, six organic solvents and their mixtures as alternative solvents for determinations were investigated. The iodine values obtained were comparable to those obtained by using cyclohexane as the solvent. When a mixture of two solvents was used it was found that a mixture of a non-protonic solvent and a protonic solvent resulted in lower iodine values comparable to those obtained by using pure cyclohexane as the solvent. The results obtained through various solvent systems appeared to be very satisfactory and distinctive as recommended by many researchers. The study is directed towards avoiding the use of hazardous solvents and encouraging the use of solvents with increased safety and precision for IV determination.