Solvent Considerations
107
C
Refractive Indices of Common Solvents
lists the refractive indices for some common chromatographic solvents. Use this
table to verify that the solvent you intend to use for your analysis has a refractive index (RI)
significantly different from the RIs of the sample components.
Table C-8 Refractive Indices for Common Chromatographic Solvents
Solvent
RI
Solvent
RI
Fluoroalkanes
1.25
Tetrahydrofuran (THF)
1.408
Hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP)
1.2752
Amyl alcohol
1.410
Methanol
1.329
Diisobutylene
1.411
Water
1.33
n-Decane
1.412
Acetonitrile
1.344
Amyl chloride
1.413
Ethyl ether
1.353
Dioxane
1.422
n-Pentane
1.358
Ethyl bromide
1.424
Acetone
1.359
Methylene chloride
1.424
Ethanol
1.361
Cyclohexane
1.427
Methyl acetate
1.362
Ethylene glycol
1.427
Isopropyl ether
1.368
N,N-Dimethyl Formamide
(DMF)
1.428
Ethyl acetate
1.370
N,N-Dimethyl Acetamide
(DMAC)
1.438
1-Pentene
1.371
Ethyl sulfide
1.442
Acetic acid
1.372
Chloroform
1.443
Isopropyl chloride
1.378
Ethylene dichloride
1.445
Isopropanol
1.38
Carbon tetrachloride
1.466
n-Propanol
1.38
Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)
1.477
Methylethylketone
1.381
Toluene
1.496
Diethyl amine
1.387
Xylene
~1.50
n-Propyl chloride
1.389
Benzene
1.501
Methylisobutylketone
1.394
Pyridine
1.510
Nitromethane
1.394
Chlorobenzene
1.525
1-Nitropropane
1.400
o-Chlorophenol
1.547
Isooctane
1.404
Aniline
1.586
Cyclopentane
1.406
Carbon disulfide
1.626