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.