Turbidimetric method for the determination of water-soluble hydroxyethylcellulose in dry blended cement

Abstract

A simple turbidimetric method for the determination of hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) is described. The method involves the addition of liquefied phenol to an alkaline (Na₂CO₃) solution of HEC which results in the formation of a suspension. The turbidity of the suspension is then related to concentration by using a calibration graph. The technique was applied successfully to the determination of HEC (without the interference of carboxymethylcellulose) in dry blended cement. The detection limit of the method was found to be 0.02%. The precision of the method (using 53 p.p.m. standard HEC) at the 95% confidence limit was ±5.3%.