Solvent Cut-off wavelengths

Solvents L0/nm L1/nm

1,2,4-trichlorobenzene 350

1,2-dichlorobenzene 350 295

1,2-dichloroethane 250 230

1,2-dimethoxyethane 300 220

2,2,4-trimethylpentane 230 210

2-ethoxyethanol 280 210

2-methoxyethanol 270 200

2-propanol 240 205

4-methylpentanone 375 335

5-methylhexanone 350 330

acetone 340 330

acetonitrile 200 190

benzene 295 280

butan-2-one 345 330

chlorobenzene 310 285

chloroform 260 240

cyclohexane 235 200

cyclopentane 220 195

decalin 250 230

dichloromethane 245 230

diethyl ether 255 220

dimethylsulphoxide 330 285

ethanol 240 205

ethyl acetate 280 260

heptane 230 200

hexane 225 195

isobutanol 250 200

methanol 240 205

n-butanol 245 215

n-butyl acetate 275 255

nitromethane >400 380

NN-dimethylformamide 300 270

n-propanol 250 210

o-xylene 325 290

p-dioxane 290 220

pentane 230 200

Pyridine 345 325

s-butanol 285 260

tetrachloroethylene 320 290

tetrahydrofuran 280 220

toluene 315 285

trichloroethylene >400

water 190 185

In this table, approximate wavelengths (nm) are specified below which the solvent absorbance may be unacceptable. For quantitative work, the cut-off may be set at a wavelength (L0) where the absorbance for 10 nm pathlength of the solvent exceeds 0.05 absorbance units (relative to water), i.e. A1cm>0.05.

For qualitative work, it may still be feasible to work at significantly lower wavelengths and most analysts accept a cut-off based on the wavelength (L1) for A1cm > 1.0.