Amount of Water in Cleaning Products: Product Quality and Performance

ISO 4317: Surfactants and Detergents - Determination of Water Content - Karl Fischer Method

What is the scope of ISO 4317?

ISO 4317 is a standard that specifies the Karl Fischer method for the determination of water content for the analysis of surfactants and detergents. Surfactants, detergents and some industrial products are critical for their water content because excess water can adversely affect the quality and efficacy of the products.

In particular, this method is used for

Surfactants: These substances form the active ingredients of detergents and have properties that can dissolve in water and dissolve dirt and grease.
Detergents: The active ingredients found in cleaning products. The effectiveness of these products may vary depending on the amount of water they contain.
Industrial Products: Especially in detergents and cleaning products, water content is an important factor affecting the quality and shelf life of the product.

It can be applied to cleaning products in powder, paste and solution form. The amount of water in detergents and surfactants should be analyzed for the presence of alkali metal salts.

What is the Karl Fischer Method?

Karl Fischer titration is an analytical method used to determine water content. This method uses the reaction of iodine (I2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) to detect the presence of water. Karl Fischer titration is particularly effective in analyzing substances with low water content and allows for very precise measurements.

This titration directly and specifically measures the presence of water. It also gives reliable results even for substances with very low water content, making it an ideal method for many industrial and laboratory applications.

Two titration methods are performed using Karl Fischer reagent:

Volumetric titration method - If water content is 2% or more
Coulometric titration method - If the water content is 0.1% or less

Under the standard, Water Amount is defined as the mass fraction of free water, water of crystallization, absorbed water or plugged water calculated from the amount of Karl Fischer reagent.

Advantages of the Karl Fischer Method

High Precision and Accuracy: Karl Fischer titration can measure water content very precisely. This method provides reliable results, especially for samples with low water content.
Versatility: The Karl Fischer method can be applied to many different types of samples, including liquids, solids and even some gases. It can even be used successfully with challenging samples such as surfactants and detergents.
Fast and Efficient: Compared to other methods, Karl Fischer titration often provides faster results, which is a time-saver for industrial environments.

Nanolab Laboratories Group continues to provide services within the scope of Water Content Analysis in Cleaning Products. We also provide services in Irritation Testing.

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