Determination of undecylenic and sorbic acids in cosmetic preparations by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection

J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2002 Nov 7;30(4):947-54. doi: 10.1016/s0731-7085(02)00472-7.

Abstract

A highly sensitive and selective method for the determination of sorbic (SA) and undecylenic acid (UA) in cosmetic formulations by a high performance liquid chromatography method with electrochemical detection (ECD) is described. The pre-column derivatizations of SA and UA and the internal standard (cyclohexanoic acid (cHA)) were carried out using 1-(2,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-bromoethanone (2,5-DBE) as an electroactive labeling reagent previously synthesized in our lab. The resulting electroactive esters were separated by isocratic elution of a 5 micrometer Hypersil CN column with acetonitrile-acetate buffer eluent. The compounds were detected by a porous graphite electrode set at an oxidation potential of +0.45 V. The analytical method developed in this study is suitable for quality control assays of complex cosmetic formulations containing sorbic and/or UA.

MeSH terms

  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / methods
  • Cosmetics / analysis*
  • Cosmetics / chemistry
  • Electrochemistry / methods
  • Sorbic Acid / analysis*
  • Sorbic Acid / chemistry
  • Undecylenic Acids / analysis*
  • Undecylenic Acids / chemistry

Substances

  • Cosmetics
  • Undecylenic Acids
  • Sorbic Acid