Keeper (chemistry)

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Keepers are substances (typically solvents, but sometimes adsorbent solids) added in relatively small quantities during an evaporative procedure in analytical chemistry, such as concentration of an analyte-solvent mixture by rotary evaporation. The purpose of a keeper is to reduce losses of a target analyte during the procedure. Keepers typically have reduced volatility and are added to a more volatile solvent.

In the case of volatile target analytes, it is difficult to totally avoid loss of the analyte in an evaporative procedure, but the presence of a keeper solvent or solid is intended to preferentially solvate or adsorb the analyte, so that the volatility of the analyte is reduced as the evaporative procedure continues. In the case of non-volatile target analytes, the presence of the keeper solvent or solid is intended to prevent all the solvent from being evaporated off, thereby preventing the loss of analytes which might irreversibly adsorb to the container walls when completely dried, or if it is totally dried (in the case of a solid keeper), provide a surface where the analyte can be reversibly rather than irreversibly adsorbed. [1] A solid keeper of sodium sulfate has been shown to be effective for reducing losses of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in evaporative procedures. [2]

Solvents commonly used as keepers

The following solvents are commonly used as keepers: [1]

Keeper solventM.W. (g/mol)Boiling point (˚C)Vapor pressure (Pa)LogP
toluene 92.14110.63786.42.73
dimethylformamide (DMF)73.10153.0516.0−1.01
n-octanol 130.23195.110.63.00
nonane 128.26150.8593.35.65
diglyme 134.17145.3394.6−0.36
n-tetradecane 198.40205.718.07.20
n-nonanol 144.26220.13.13.77
isooctane 99.299.26572.84.09
ethylene glycol 197.3197.312.3−1.36
decane 174.1174.1190.75.01
undecane 195.9195.954.95.74
dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)189.0189.081.3−1.35
tricaprin (glycerol tridecanoate)554.86540.09.0*10−912.15
dodecane 170.34216.318.06.10
1-hexanol 102.18157.6123.72.03
methanol 32.0464.716931.9−0.77

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References

  1. 1 2 Dąbrowski, Łukasz (2016). "Review of use of keepers in solvent evaporation procedure during the environmental sample analysis of some organic pollutants". TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry. 80. Elsevier BV: 507–516. doi:10.1016/j.trac.2015.10.014. ISSN   0165-9936.
  2. Simpson, Christopher D.; Cullen, William R.; Quinlan, Kristine B.; Reimer, Kenneth J. (1995). "Methodology for the determination of priority pollutant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in marine sediments". Chemosphere. 31 (9). Elsevier BV: 4143–4155. doi:10.1016/0045-6535(95)80014-c. ISSN   0045-6535.