I want to measure the carbon content in a liquid sample which is a by-product of glycerol steam reforming process by analyzing it with GC. It consists of water and probably acetaldehyde, acrolein, acetone, methanol, ethanol, acetic acid, propanol, glycerol and maybe some aromatic oxygenated hydrocarbons. Since the main component is water that will harm GC column, does anyone have suggestions for removing water from this sample?
You may want to consider the salting-out procedure, aiming to promote liquid-liquid phase separation of a salty aqueous phase. It may help to add yet another solvent slightly soluble in water, such as (e.g.) tert-amyl alcohol (*), so that it can be used as extractant of the mentioned organics, possibly by means of sucessive extractions.
(*) The ternary phase diagram (with tie lines) for the glycerol―water―tert-amyl alcohol can be found at: Alfred W. Francis, "Liquid-Liquid Equilibriums", Interscience Publishers (John Wiley & Sons), New York and London, 1963, p. 36.
You may possibly want to check the following (somewhat related) discussion: https://www.researchgate.net/post/Is_there_any_way_to_make_immiscible_a_kind_of_alcohol_in_contact_with_water
Why don't you correct the %Component (as is) by dividing by the %Moisture found by KFR? Thus, the final results will be expressed as 'dry basis or anhydrous'.
We have applied the method proposed by Alfred and I recommend the same for you.
You may concentrate first the sample in vacuo (rotary evaporator). After all the organic solvents are removed, then you may lyophilize or spray dry the sample to completely remove water content.
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