Phosphorus Contamination in Polyethylene Glycol

Concentrations of Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Ca, Mg, K, and P were examined in untreated and ion exchange resin-treated solutions of polyethylene glycol, molecular weight 3000 to 3700, polyethylene glycol (PEG 4000). Relatively high levels of P were found in untreated PEF-4000 solutions. The concentration of contaminating P in solutions prepared from untreated PEG 4000, even at high water potentials (-1 to -3 bars), was greater than what is usually found in soil solution. Occurrence of significant amounts of P in untreated PEG could introduce problems in experiments where 32P and PEG are used together and where phosphate interactions may occur.