Monograph describes the basics of the Karl Fischer titration, covering reagents, chemical reactions, volumetric and coulometric titrations as well as the different detection methods
Water determination is, together with the measurement of pH value and acid base titrations, one of the most frequently performed analysis in laboratories around the world.
This is not really surprising as the water content directly influences the quality, process ability, shelf life and stability of a wide range of products.
Various physical and chemical methods are used to determine the water content.
Among these, the Karl Fischer titration method has established itself as the reference method for general use.
It is characterised by its high specificity and precision, and works over a wide concentration range from ppm to 100% levels.
An additional advantage is the short determination times for analysis.
This monograph first describes the basics of the Karl Fischer titration.
It covers not only the KF reagents, chemical reactions, volumetric and coulometric titrations as well as the different detection methods, but also deals with aspects such as interfering side reactions and sample preparation techniques.
The second part of this monograph contains detailed working instructions for the determination of water in different samples and covers more than 900 substances.
The spectrum ranges from raw materials through cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, foodstuff and plastics up to gaseous samples.
