Determination of Phenolic Hydroxyl Content in Poly(phenylene oxide) by Differential Ultraviolet Spectrophotometry

Qin-Yu Yan; Shun-Gang Song; Bu-Jie Zhou; Jing Hu; Lian-Fang Feng; Xue-Ping Gu; Cai-Liang Zhang

doi:10.1007/s10118-025-3463-y

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Determination of Phenolic Hydroxyl Content in Poly(phenylene oxide) by Differential Ultraviolet Spectrophotometry

RESEARCH ARTICLE | Updated：2026-01-13

- Determination of Phenolic Hydroxyl Content in Poly(phenylene oxide) by Differential Ultraviolet Spectrophotometry
- Chinese Journal of Polymer Science Vol. 44, Issue 1, Pages: 79-86(2026)
- Affiliations：
  
  a.State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering and Low-Carbon Technology, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
  b.Institute of Zhejiang University-Quzhou, Quzhou 324000, China
  c.Hangzhou Polyful Advanced Material Co., Ltd., Hangzhou 310013, China
- Author bio：
  
  zhangcailiang@zju.edu.cn
- Funds：
- DOI：10.1007/s10118-025-3463-y
  CLC：
- Received：18 August 2025，
  
  Accepted：25 September 2025，
  
  Online First：22 December 2025，
  
  Published：15 January 2026
- Accepted：
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Yan, Q. Y.; Song, S. G.; Zhou, B. J.; Hu, J.; Feng, L. F.; Gu, X. P.; Zhang, C. L. Determination of phenolic hydroxyl content in poly(phenylene oxide) by differential ultraviolet spectrophotometry. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2026, 44, 79–86

Qin-Yu Yan, Shun-Gang Song, Bu-Jie Zhou, et al. Determination of Phenolic Hydroxyl Content in Poly(phenylene oxide) by Differential Ultraviolet Spectrophotometry[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2026, 44(1): 79-86.
Yan, Q. Y.; Song, S. G.; Zhou, B. J.; Hu, J.; Feng, L. F.; Gu, X. P.; Zhang, C. L. Determination of phenolic hydroxyl content in poly(phenylene oxide) by differential ultraviolet spectrophotometry. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2026, 44, 79–86 DOI： 10.1007/s10118-025-3463-y.

Qin-Yu Yan, Shun-Gang Song, Bu-Jie Zhou, et al. Determination of Phenolic Hydroxyl Content in Poly(phenylene oxide) by Differential Ultraviolet Spectrophotometry[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2026, 44(1): 79-86. DOI： 10.1007/s10118-025-3463-y.

摘要

This study presents a novel method for quantifying the phenolic hydroxyl content in poly(phenylene oxide) using differential UV absorption spectroscopy. The approach exploits the substantial increase in absorbance at 300 nm in alkaline solutions

providing a precise and straightforward technique with distinct advantages over conventional methods.

Abstract

Poly(phenylene oxide) (PPO) exhibits excellent dielectric properties

making it an ideal substrate for high-frequency

high-speed copper-clad laminates. The phenolic hydroxyl group at the end of PPO plays a key role in its reactivity. Accurately quantifying the phenolic hydroxyl content in PPO is essential but challenging. In this study

we proposed a method for measuring the phenolic hydroxyl content of PPO using differential UV absorption spectroscopy. In alkaline solutions

the phenolic hydroxyl in PPO completely ionizes to form phenoxide ions

leading to a significant increase in UV absorbance at approximately 250 and 300 nm. Notably

the differential UV absorbance at approximately 300 nm was directly proportional to the phenolic hydroxyl concentration. Using 2

6-dimethylphenol as a standard

a calibration curve was established to relate the phenolic hydroxyl concentration to differential UV absorbance at approximately 300 nm

providing a precise and straightforward method for phenolic hydroxyl quantification in PPO with distinct advantages over conventional techniques.

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references

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