Determination of traces of hydroperoxide by reaction with arsenic(III). Application to determination in polymer latex

The rate of reaction between arsenic(III) and hydroperoxides has been determined at varying pH, temperature, and concentration of reactants. The reaction in dilute sodium hydroxide is suitable for the determination of hydroperoxides. Procedures are described for accurate determination of hydroperoxides at concentrations of the order of 10^-5M. In one procedure a slight excess of As(III) is used and the excess titrated amperometrically with iodine. In the other procedure a large excess of As(III) is used and the As(V) formed determined spectrophotometrically. The latter method is applied to the determination of traces of hydroperoxides in a polystyrene latex.