Product category:
Titration equipment
News Release from: Metrohm UK | Subject: Titrotherm
Edited by the Laboratorytalk Editorial
Team on 13 June 2007
Determination of aluminium in
antiperspirants
Thermometric titration is a versatile method and an ideal complement to potentiometric titration, suitable for any reaction that produces a sufficiently large temperature change in the sample solution
Body odour is never pleasant, and we've all been crammed on a train or been in a busy shopping centre and noticed the distinctive smell of stale sweat Men sweat more than women, so it's no surprise they are the worst offenders
This article was originally published on Laboratorytalk on 27 Jun 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Determining aluminium level in deodorant matrix
Body odour is never pleasant, and we've all been crammed on a train or been in a busy shopping centre and noticed the distinctive smell of stale sweat
Control of sulphate in phosphoric acid production
With world food production at record levels and demand for crop-derived biofuels rising sharply, the production of phosphate-based fertilisers is booming
Deodorants are substances applied to the body, most frequently the armpits, to reduce the body odour caused by the bacterial breakdown of perspiration.
A subgroup of deodorants are antiperspirants, which prevent odour and reduce sweat produced by parts of the body.
Antiperspirants are typically applied to the underarms, while deodorants can also be used on feet and other areas in the form of body sprays.
Further reading
Potentiometric titration with thermoprobe
Thermometric titration is a versatile determination method and an ideal complement to potentiometric titration, suitable for any reaction that produces a sufficiently large temperature change
Determination of free fatty acid in olive oil
The acid content of oils - often only present in traces - is a quality criterion and can be determined by thermometric titration
This titrator should be hot enough
In its continuing efforts to serve its customers, Metrohm believes that Titrotherm will be a factor in solving titration problems often considered too difficult by other techniques
Human sweat itself is largely odourless until it is fermented by bacteria that thrive in hot, humid environments such as the human underarm.
The armpits are among the consistently warmest areas on the surface of the human body, and sweat glands provide moisture.
Underarm hair adds to the odour by providing increased surface area on which this bacteria thrive.
Body odour is controlled by reducing moisture, killing bacteria or over powering the bacteria's smell with perfume.
Deodorants work to inhibit the growth of bacteria which cause odours.
The first commercial deodorant, Mum, was introduced in the late nineteenth century.
Deodorants are usually alcohol-based, which kills bacteria effectively.
Deodorants can be formulated with other, more persistent antimicrobials, or with metal chelant compounds that slow bacterial growth.
Deodorants also often contain perfume fragrances intended to mask the odour of perspiration.
Deodorants may be combined with antiperspirants which attempt to stop or significantly reduce perspiration and thus reduce the moist climate in which bacteria thrive.
Aluminium chloride, aluminium chlorohydrate, and aluminium-zirconium compounds, are the most widely used antiperspirants.
Aluminum-based complexes react with the electrolytes in the sweat to form a gel plug in the duct of the sweat gland.
The plugs prevent the gland from excreting liquid and are removed over time by the natural exfoliation of the skin.
The blockage of a large number of sweat glands reduces the amount of sweat produced in the underarms, though this may vary from person to person.
The level of these aluminum based products must be known accurately within the deodorant matrix, and until recently, the determination of these products has proven to be difficult.
This new technique for determining aluminium in antiperspirants is available for the Metrohm Titrotherm.
This is a fast, direct method with excellent reproducibility.
It is particularly suitable for applications for which no suitable potentiometric sensor is available, for which no suitable reference electrode is available, in which the sample affects the indicator electrode or destroys it, or for which no solvent is available that is suitable for potentiometry.
The 859 Titrotherm combines innovative sensor technology with Metrohm's titration know-how.
The temperature sensor based on semiconductor technology (thermistor), has a short response time of 0.3s and a high resolution of 10^-5 K.
This makes the Thermoprobe the ideal sensor for thermometric titration, as it can follow any change in temperature quickly and accurately.
Metrohm's Dosino technology has defined a new standard for volumetric titration.
The dosing unit with its drive motor is mounted on the reagent bottle and thus guarantees maximum precision with minimum space requirements. Request a free brochure from Metrohm UK ...
• Metrohm UK: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Laboratorytalk email newsletter
• Laboratorytalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
