Detection and Determination of Quaternary Ammonium Compounds applied on Bamboo Sheath

Abstract

Quaternary ammonium chloride is being used increasingly to give a glossy appearance on the surface of bamboo sheath, which is used as a food wrapping. Extraction of this quaternary ammonium chloride is rather difficult because it may have combined with some constituents of the bamboo sheath. A method was therefore devised to isolate and determine the quaternary ammonium chloride. Bamboo sheath is cut into small pieces, heated with 0.1 N HCl for 30 min, and then the acidic solution is extracted with two 30 ml portions of ethanol. Ethanol is steam distilled from this extract and quaternary ammonium chloride in the residual aqueous solution is determined by the Bromophenol Blue method, the amount being expressed as mole of benzethonium chloride.