Chromatographic determination of neutrals in tall oil fatty acids,gum and wood rosin

A simple analytical method for the determina-tion of the neutrals (nonacidics) in tall oil fatty acids, gum and wood rosin has been developed. The method is based on the use of Chromatogra-phic techniques for the separation of the acidic from the nonacidic fraction by using alumina as the adsorbent and acetone as the solvent. Data are presented which show good agreement between a calculated theoretical nonacidic content and the amount actually found by the chromatographie procedure as well as the standard AOCS procedure for unsaponifiables. To correct for any acidity in the sample that might have been eluted from the column, dissolve the residue in 50 ml of neutral 2:1 benzene-methyl alcohol and titrate to a thymol blue end-point with approximately 0.1 normal alcoholic KOH. This value is usually zero unless the column is overloaded.