Determination of the Oil/ Water Distribution Coefficients of Glyceryl Trinitrate and Two Similar Nitrate Esters

The oil/water distribution coefficients of glyceryl trinitrate, chloroglyceryl dinitrate (l-chloro-2,3-propanediol dinitrate), and ethylglyceryl trinitrate (1,2,3- pentanetriol trinitrate) are determined. The analytical method employed (described in detail) is based on the reduction of a portion of the nitrate of each ester to the nitrite upon alkaline hydrolysis. This was determined by diazotization of sulfanilic acid and subsequent coupling with N-(l-naphthyl)-ethylenediamine and measuring the color spectrophotometrically.