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Via Enrico Mattei 4 

26827 Terranova dei Passerini LO (Italy) 

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Terranova dei Passerini, July 19

th

,2010 

Subject Determination of ALFOTERRA average molecular weight 

Test method Reporting GPC Information for Polymer Notifications in Canada 

The determination of ALFOTERRA molecular weight was based on GPC analytical method, according to the “Reporting 

GPC Information for Polymer Notifications in Canada”. 

Due to the characteristics of the product and the difficulties in finding a reliable standard to be compared with the 

alcohol propoxy sulphate, the Mw determination have been done on the alcohol propoxylates from which the final 

ALFOTERRA samples have been produced. The data relative to the final propoxysulphates are derived applying simple 

mathematical calculations to the raw data, in particular 102 was added to the molecular weight of the considered single 

fractions of the alcohol propoxylate. The presence of the unsulfated matter in the final ALFOTERRA samples have not 

been considered, being the unsulphated matter variable between 0-10% based on 100% active matter. 

All the data reported in the present report have been obtained on single samples. The commercial products could 

present some deviations from the values reported below within the specification limits. 

For the purposes of the present report, each ALFOTERRA have been considered as 100% active matter, while the actual 

concentration of the commercial product is 26-28% w/w. 

Analytical conditions, instruments and calibration curve are reported in the ANNEX I. 

Considered samples are the following: 

Starting alcohol propoxylate -------------------- Final Alcohol propoxysulphate

ALFOTERRA 123-4 (lot 060614) -------------------- ALFOTERRA 123-4S (lot 100225) 

ALFOTERRA 123-8 (lot 060615) -------------------- ALFOTERRA 123-8S (lot 100626) 

ALFOTERRA 145-4 (lot 070116) -------------------- ALFOTERRA 145-4S (lot 070125) 

ALFOTERRA 145-8 (lot 060621) -------------------- ALFOTERRA 145-8S (lot 100129) 

ALFOTERRA 167-4 (lot 061004) -------------------- ALFOTERRA 164-4S (lot 070130) 

ALFOTERRA 123-4S (lot.100225) 

MW % cumulative 

% 

1798 0,01 

1694 0,04 0,05 

1597 0,09 0,14 

1506 0,15 0,29 

1420 0,22 0,51 

1339 0,31 0,82 

1264 0,45 1,27 

1193 0,68 1,95 

1126 1,05 3,00 

1064 1,62 4,62 

1005 2,38 7,00 

950 3,30 10,3 

898 4,29 14,59 

849 5,26 19,85 

804 6,10 25,95 

761 6,79 32,74 

720 7,38 40,12 

683 7,76 47,88 

647 8,17 56,05 

614 7,96 64,01 

SASOL ITALY R&D

Technical Customer Support & Application Development
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Via Enrico Mattei 4 

26827 Terranova dei Passerini LO (Italy) 

Tel. : + 39 0377 4631 - Fax : + 39 0377 463 226 

583 7,98 71,99 

553 6,98 78,97 

526 6,21 85,18 

500 5,21 90,39 

475 3,62 94,01 

453 2,57 96,58 

431 1,42 98,00 

411 0,66 98,66 

392 0,41 99,07 

375 0,31 99,38 

358 0,27 99,65 

342 0,19 99,84 

328 0,10 99,94 

314 0,05 99,99 

301 0,01 100 

Mn: 646 

1000<<500  80,6% 

<500  14,8% 

ALFOTERRA 123-8S (lot.100626) 

MW % cumulative 

% 

2284 0,01 

2151 0,05 0,06 

2026 0,11 0,17 

1908 0,19 0,36 

1798 0,26 0,62 

1694 0,33 0,95 

1597 0,46 1,41 

1506 0,74 2,15 

1420 1,34 3,49 

1339 2,35 5,84 

1264 3,75 9,59 

1193 5,39 14,98 

1126 7,02 22 

1064 8,37 30,37 

1005 9,18 39,55 

950 9,37 48,92 

898 8,95 57,87 

849 8,07 65,94 

804 6,92 72,86 

761 5,71 78,57 

720 4,60 83,17 

683 3,62 86,79 

647 2,84 89,63 

614 2,09 91,72 

583 1,56 93,28 

553 1,07 94,35 

526 0,69 95,04 

500 0,44 95,48 

475 0,26 95,74 

453 0,20 95,94 

431 0,16 96,1 

411 0,07 96,17 

392 0,07 96,24 

375 0,27 96,51 

358 0,67 97,18 

342 1,04 98,22 

328 1.00 99,22 

314 0,56 99,78 
Sasol Italy S.p.A. 

Via Enrico Mattei 4 

26827 Terranova dei Passerini LO (Italy) 

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301 0,19 99,97 

289 0,03 100 

Mn: 859 

1000<<500  64,7% 

<500  4,0% 

ALFOTERRA 145-4S (lot.070125) 

MW % cumulative 

% 

1908 0,01 

1798 0,04 0,05 

1694 0,08 0,13 

1597 0,13 0,26 

1506 0,19 0,45 

1420 0,27 0,72 

1339 0,39 1,11 

1264 0,62 1,73 

1193 1.00 2,73 

1126 1,56 4,29 

1064 2,33 6,62 

1005 3,24 9,86 

950 4,23 14,09 

898 5,19 19,28 

849 6,03 25,31 

804 6,75 32,06 

761 7,38 39,44 

720 7,90 47,34 

683 8,38 55,72 

647 8,40 64,12 

614 8,34 72,46 

583 7,40 79,86 

553 6,69 86,55 

526 5,15 91,7 

500 3,63 95,33 

475 2,21 97,54 

453 1,03 98,57 

431 0,54 99,11 

411 0,32 99,43 

392 0,18 99,61 

375 0,13 99,74 

358 0,11 99,85 

342 0,08 99,93 

328 0,05 99,98 

314 0,02 100 

Mn: 686 

1000<<500  85,1% 

<500  8,3% 

ALFOTERRA 145-8S (lot.100129) 

MW % cumulative 

% 

2284 0,01 

2151 0,05 0,06 

2026 0,11 0,17 
Sasol Italy S.p.A. 

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26827 Terranova dei Passerini LO (Italy) 

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1908 0,18 0,35 

1798 0,24 0,59 

1694 0,32 0,91 

1597 0,52 1,43 

1506 0,95 2,38 

1420 1,75 4,13 

1339 3.00 7,13 

1264 4,61 11,74 

1193 6,41 18,15 

1126 8,05 26,2 

1064 9,25 35,45 

1005 9,82 45,27 

950 9,69 54,96 

898 9.00 63,96 

849 7,90 71,86 

804 6,66 78,52 

761 5,47 83,99 

720 4,38 88,37 

683 3,44 91,81 

647 2,56 94,37 

614 1,88 96,25 

583 1,25 97,5 

553 0,82 98,32 

526 0,50 98,82 

500 0,27 99,09 

475 0,16 99,25 

453 0,12 99,37 

431 0,08 99,45 

411 0,02 99,47 

392 0,05 99,52 

375 0,10 99,62 

358 0,11 99,73 

342 0,10 99,83 

328 0,08 99,91 

314 0,06 99,97 

301 0,03 100 

Mn: 1016 

1000<<500  54,7% 

<500  1,2% 

ALFOTERRA 167-4S (lot.100129) 

MW % cumulative 

% 

1694 0,01 0,01 

1597 0,02 0,03 

1506 0,05 0,08 

1420 0,11 0,19 

1339 0,22 0,41 

1264 0,43 0,84 

1193 0,83 1,67 

1126 1,50 3,17 

1064 2,49 5,66 

1005 3,72 9,38 

950 5,08 14,46 

898 6,38 20,84 

849 7,52 28,36 

804 8,47 36,83 

761 9,18 46,01 

720 9,58 55,59 

683 9,56 65,15 
Sasol Italy S.p.A. 

Via Enrico Mattei 4 

26827 Terranova dei Passerini LO (Italy) 

Tel. : + 39 0377 4631 - Fax : + 39 0377 463 226 

647 8,98 74,13 

614 7,95 82,08 

583 6,62 88,7 

553 4,78 93,48 

526 3,07 96,55 

500 1,53 98,08 

475 0,79 98,87 

453 0,43 99,3 

431 0,18 99,48 

411 0,09 99,57 

392 0,08 99,65 

375 0,08 99,73 

358 0,09 99,82 

342 0,08 99,9 

328 0,06 99,96 

314 0,03 99,99 

301 0,01 100 

Mn: 1016 

1000<<500  90,9% 

<500  3,5% 

Marco Suardi 

Technical Customer Support 

And Application Development 
Sasol Italy S.p.A. 

Via Enrico Mattei 4 

26827 Terranova dei Passerini LO (Italy) 

Tel. : + 39 0377 4631 - Fax : + 39 0377 463 226 

Research & Development 

Analytical Laboratory 

Terranova dei Passerini, 8th July 2010 

Ref.: HPLC20-10 

ANNEX I : Evaluation of MW in Alfoterra samples 

The request of TCS, was the determination on five Alfoterra samples of the mass percentage with 

a MW below 500 and 1000 Dalton according to: “Reporting GPC Information for Polymer 

Notifications in Canada”. 

The samples were dissolved in THF (~5% v/v) and then injected. 

Instrumental set up: 

Column: Jordi Gel DVB 100Å 300 x 7.8 mm 

Eluent: THF 

Flow: 0.6 mL min-1

Detector: RI at 35 °C 

Injection: 5 μL 

The calibration curve (retention time vs log MW) was carried out using PEG standard (all from 

FLUKATM) with an average MW (Da) of : 200 (cat.#81282), 600 (cat.#81286), 1000 (cat.#81288), 

1500 (cat.#81289) 

Fig 1 Calibration curve 

y = -3,6524x + 22,445

R

2

 = 0,9955

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

2,000 2,200 2,400 2,600 2,800 3,000 3,200 3,400

lg MW

t (min)
Sasol Italy S.p.A. 

Via Enrico Mattei 4 

26827 Terranova dei Passerini LO (Italy) 

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 Fig.2 Alfoterra 123-4 

Fig.3 Alfoterra 123-8 
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Via Enrico Mattei 4 

26827 Terranova dei Passerini LO (Italy) 

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Fig.4 Alfoterra 145-4 

Fig.5 Alfoterra 145-8 
Sasol Italy S.p.A. 

Via Enrico Mattei 4 

26827 Terranova dei Passerini LO (Italy) 

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Fig.6 Alfoterra 167-4

On the basis of the LS regression line equation, the calculated time (min) limits are: 

 MW < 500 → t > 12.59 

1000 > MW > 500 → 11.49 > t > 12.59 

The results express as % area, are listed below: 

 MW < 500 1000 > MW > 500 MW > 1000 

 

Alfoterra 123-4 

060614 36.0 61.0 3.0 

Alfoterra 123-8 

060615 8.2 69.8 22.0 

Alfoterra 145-4 

070116 27.5 68.2 4.3 

Alfoterra 145-8 

060621 3.9 70.2 25.9 

Alfoterra 167-4 

061004 17.9 78.9 3.2 

 

G. Donato 
Sasol Italy S.p.A. 

Via Enrico Mattei 4 

26827 Terranova dei Passerini LO (Italy) 

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Table 1 

Alfoterra 123-4 

Retention

time MW % 

cumulative

% 

 

10,65 1696 0,01 

10,75 1592 0,04 0,05 

10,85 1495 0,09 0,14 

10,95 1404 0,15 0,29 

11,05 1318 0,22 0,51 

11,15 1237 0,31 0,82 

11,25 1162 0,45 1,27 

11,35 1091 0,68 1,95 

11,45 1024 1,05 3 

11,55 962 1,62 4,62 

11,65 903 2,38 7 

11,75 848 3,30 10,3 

11,85 796 4,29 14,59 

11,95 747 5,26 19,85 

12,05 702 6,10 25,95 

12,15 659 6,79 32,74 

12,25 618 7,38 40,12 

12,35 581 7,76 47,88 

12,45 545 8,17 56,05 

12,55 512 7,96 64,01 

12,65 481 7,98 71,99 

12,75 451 6,98 78,97 

12,85 424 6,21 85,18 

12,95 398 5,21 90,39 

13,05 373 3,62 94,01 

13,15 351 2,57 96,58 

13,25 329 1,42 98 

13,35 309 0,66 98,66 

13,45 290 0,41 99,07 

13,55 273 0,31 99,38 

13,65 256 0,27 99,65 

13,75 240 0,19 99,84 

13,85 226 0,10 99,94 

13,95 212 0,05 99,99 

14,05 199 0,01 100 

 

 Mn 536
Sasol Italy S.p.A. 

Via Enrico Mattei 4 

26827 Terranova dei Passerini LO (Italy) 

Tel. : + 39 0377 4631 - Fax : + 39 0377 463 226 

Table 2 

Alfoterra 145-4 

Retention

time MW % 

cumulative

% 

 

10,55 1806 0,01 

10,65 1696 0,04 0,05 

10,75 1592 0,08 0,13 

10,85 1495 0,13 0,26 

10,95 1404 0,19 0,45 

11,05 1318 0,27 0,72 

11,15 1237 0,39 1,11 

11,25 1162 0,62 1,73 

11,35 1091 1.00 2,73 

11,45 1024 1,56 4,29 

11,55 962 2,33 6,62 

11,65 903 3,24 9,86 

11,75 848 4,23 14,09 

11,85 796 5,19 19,28 

11,95 747 6,03 25,31 

12,05 702 6,75 32,06 

12,15 659 7,38 39,44 

12,25 618 7,90 47,34 

12,35 581 8,38 55,72 

12,45 545 8,40 64,12 

12,55 512 8,34 72,46 

12,65 481 7,40 79,86 

12,75 451 6,69 86,55 

12,85 424 5,15 91,7 

12,95 398 3,63 95,33 

13,05 373 2,21 97,54 

13,15 351 1,03 98,57 

13,25 329 0,54 99,11 

13,35 309 0,32 99,43 

13,45 290 0,18 99,61 

13,55 273 0,13 99,74 

13,65 256 0,11 99,85 

13,75 240 0,08 99,93 

13,85 226 0,05 99,98 

13,95 212 0,02 100 

 

 Mn 574 
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26827 Terranova dei Passerini LO (Italy) 

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Table 3 

Alfoterra 167-4 

Retention

time MW % 

cumulative

% 

 

10,75 1592 0,01 0,01 

10,85 1495 0,02 0,03 

10,95 1404 0,05 0,08 

11,05 1318 0,11 0,19 

11,15 1237 0,22 0,41 

11,25 1162 0,43 0,84 

11,35 1091 0,83 1,67 

11,45 1024 1,50 3,17 

11,55 962 2,49 5,66 

11,65 903 3,72 9,38 

11,75 848 5,08 14,46 

11,85 796 6,38 20,84 

11,95 747 7,52 28,36 

12,05 702 8,47 36,83 

12,15 659 9,18 46,01 

12,25 618 9,58 55,59 

12,35 581 9,56 65,15 

12,45 545 8,98 74,13 

12,55 512 7,95 82,08 

12,65 481 6,62 88,7 

12,75 451 4,78 93,48 

12,85 424 3,07 96,55 

12,95 398 1,53 98,08 

13,05 373 0,79 98,87 

13,15 351 0,43 99,3 

13,25 329 0,18 99,48 

13,35 309 0,09 99,57 

13,45 290 0,08 99,65 

13,55 273 0,08 99,73 

13,65 256 0,09 99,82 

13,75 240 0,08 99,9 

13,85 226 0,06 99,96 

13,95 212 0,03 99,99 

14,05 199 0,01 100 

 

 Mn 606 
Sasol Italy S.p.A. 

Via Enrico Mattei 4 

26827 Terranova dei Passerini LO (Italy) 

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Table 4 

Alfoterra 123-8 

Retention

time MW % 

cumulative

% 

 

10,25 2182 0,01 

10,35 2049 0,05 0,06 

10,45 1924 0,11 0,17 

10,55 1806 0,19 0,36 

10,65 1696 0,26 0,62 

10,75 1592 0,33 0,95 

10,85 1495 0,46 1,41 

10,95 1404 0,74 2,15 

11,05 1318 1,34 3,49 

11,15 1237 2,35 5,84 

11,25 1162 3,75 9,59 

11,35 1091 5,39 14,98 

11,45 1024 7,02 22 

11,55 962 8,37 30,37 

11,65 903 9,18 39,55 

11,75 848 9,37 48,92 

11,85 796 8,95 57,87 

11,95 747 8,07 65,94 

12,05 702 6,92 72,86 

12,15 659 5,71 78,57 

12,25 618 4,60 83,17 

12,35 581 3,62 86,79 

12,45 545 2,84 89,63 

12,55 512 2,09 91,72 

12,65 481 1,56 93,28 

12,75 451 1,07 94,35 

12,85 424 0,69 95,04 

12,95 398 0,44 95,48 

13,05 373 0,26 95,74 

13,15 351 0,20 95,94 

13,25 329 0,16 96,1 

13,35 309 0,07 96,17 

13,45 290 0,07 96,24 

13,55 273 0,27 96,51 

13,65 256 0,67 97,18 

13,75 240 1,04 98,22 

13,85 226 1.00 99,22 

13,95 212 0,56 99,78 

14,05 199 0,19 99,97 

14,15 187 0,03 100 

 

 Mn 717 
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26827 Terranova dei Passerini LO (Italy) 

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Table 5 

Alfoterra 145-8 

Retention 

time MW % 

cumulative

% 

 

10,25 2182 0,01 

10,35 2049 0,05 0,06 

10,45 1924 0,11 0,17 

10,55 1806 0,18 0,35 

10,65 1696 0,24 0,59 

10,75 1592 0,32 0,91 

10,85 1495 0,52 1,43 

10,95 1404 0,95 2,38 

11,05 1318 1,75 4,13 

11,15 1237 3.00 7,13 

11,25 1162 4,61 11,74 

11,35 1091 6,41 18,15 

11,45 1024 8,05 26,2 

11,55 962 9,25 35,45 

11,65 903 9,82 45,27 

11,75 848 9,69 54,96 

11,85 796 9.00 63,96 

11,95 747 7,90 71,86 

12,05 702 6,66 78,52 

12,15 659 5,47 83,99 

12,25 618 4,38 88,37 

12,35 581 3,44 91,81 

12,45 545 2,56 94,37 

12,55 512 1,88 96,25 

12,65 481 1,25 97,5 

12,75 451 0,82 98,32 

12,85 424 0,50 98,82 

12,95 398 0,27 99,09 

13,05 373 0,16 99,25 

13,15 351 0,12 99,37 

13,25 329 0,08 99,45 

13,35 309 0,02 99,47 

13,45 290 0,05 99,52 

13,55 273 0,10 99,62 

13,65 256 0,11 99,73 

13,75 240 0,10 99,83 

13,85 226 0,08 99,91 

13,95 212 0,06 99,97 

14,05 199 0,03 100 

 

 Mn 797