Permeation of a malathion formulation through butyl gloves

The factors that determined the permeation kinetics of a commercial malathion formulation (Prent) and its reconstituted cocktail of malathion and its xylene-range fraction inert ingredients at Prent concentrations (Recon) were investigated for an unlined unsupported butyl industrial type glove in an ASTM-type permeation cell with Liquid 2-propanol collection and subsequent analysis by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. For both Prent and Recon, the steady-state permeation rate P-s correlated inversely with the logarithm of the breakthrough time t(b), as did logP(s) with logt(b). P-s, logP(s), P-s/t(1) and logP(s)/t(1) (where t(1) is the lag time) versus the logarithm of the weight percentage of component divided by the total weight were linear too. After accounting for mixture composition, the second strongest linear regression term was liquid molar volume, and the strongest third term was octanol-water partition coefficient (log K-ow). Retention volumes, V-R(t(1)) at t(1) and V-R(t(s1)) at the first observed time in the steady-state t(s1) of each chemical in Prent and Recon, were also similarly correlated to the weight percentage and logK(ow),, or Snyder elution strength (E-o). At least three independent variables are necessary to account for the permeation of this complex mixture. One factor accounts for composition, another for molecular size, and the third for partitioning behavior. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.