Reagent for detecting free water in hydrocarbon(s) - comprising insoluble fluorescent dye in miscible solvent

摘要

Reagent for detecting the presence of undissolved H2O in hydrocarbon mixts. (esp. jet fuel) comprises a soln. of a hydrocarbon-insoluble fluorescent dye (I) in a weakly polar organic solvent which is soluble in the hydrocarbon mixt. being tested. (I) is pref. Na fluorescein, and the solvent is pref. 2-ethylhexanoic acid, opt. mixed with DMSO. Other suitable solvents are butanol and ethylene glycol monoethyl or -butyl ether. The concn. of (I) in the solvent is pref. =0.0005 (esp. =0.1) wt.%. The reagent provides a rapid test which can be carried out in the field by unskilled personnel; the formation of fluorescent droplets indicates a positive result. Amts. of H2O as low as 1 ppm. can be detected.