Methyl paraben

A mixture of methyl paraben, ethyl paraben, propyl paraben, diethyl phthalate, and butyl paraben is separated by HPLC. This experiment emphasizes the development of a mobile-phase composition capable of separating the mixture. A photodiode array detector demonstrates the coelution of the two compounds. 

More subtle effects of preservatives on injectable formulations are possible. Formulation of insulin is an illustrative case study. Insulin is usually formulated as a multiple-dose vial, since individual dosage varies among patients. Preservation of zinc insulin with phenol causes physical instability of the suspension, whereas methyl-paraben does not. However, the presence of phenol is required for obtaining protamine insulin crystals [9]. 

FIGURE 6.17 Chromatogram overlay for 24 consecutive runs performed on a single column. (A) results of overlay for the chromatograms obtained with UV absorbance detection. Peaks are identified as (with increasing retention time) uracil (dead volume marker), methyl paraben, and propyl paraben. (B) results of overlay for chromatograms obtained from fluorescence detection (peak identified as rhodamine 110 chloride). 

FIGURE 6.21 Results of evaluation of autosampler accuracy. Peak area values for methyl paraben are plotted against corresponding volume of injection. Values represent average peak areas obtained after triplicate injections. Error bars represent + one standard deviation. 

To evaluate linearity, limits of detection (LOD), limits of quantitation (LOQ), and sensitivity, an experiment assessed the responses for different concentrations of two analytes of interest. The analytes employed were methyl paraben and rhodamine 110 chloride. Consecutive 5.0 /jL injections of a series of serial dilutions (four replicates) of this standard mixture containing the analytes described were carried out via a cartridge packed with C18 stationary phase and per-column dimensions of 0.5 mm circular cross section and 80 mm length. 

Signals for methyl paraben were monitored with UV detection at 254 nm. The signal for rhodamine 110 chloride was monitored via fluorescence detection with an excitation filter of 482 nm (35 nm bandwidth) and emission filter of 535 nm (40 nm bandwidth). A gradient method (same as the one in Figure 6.16) was used. The compositions of mobile phases A and B were 5 95 H20 CH3CN with 0.1 HCOOH and CH3CN with 0.085% HCOOH, respectively, with a total flow rate of 300 fiL/ min (corresponding to 12.5 /rL/min for each column). 

LOD is defined as the lowest concentration of an analyte that produces a signal above the background signal. LOQ is defined as the minimum amount of analyte that can be reported through quantitation. For these evaluations, a 3 x signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) value was employed for the LOD and a 10 x S/N was used to evaluate LOQ. The %RSD for the LOD had to be less than 20% and for LOQ had to be less than 10%. Table 6.2 lists the parameters for the LOD and LOQ for methyl paraben and rhodamine 110 chloride under the conditions employed. It is important to note that the LOD and LOQ values were dependent upon the physicochemical properties of the analytes (molar absorptivity, quantum yield, etc.), methods employed (wavelengths employed for detection, mobile phases, etc.), and instrumental parameters. For example, the molar absorptivity of methyl paraben at 254 nm was determined to be approximately 9000 mol/L/cm and a similar result could be expected for analytes with similar molar absorptivity values when the exact methods and instrumental parameters were used. In the case of fluorescence detection, for most applications in which the analytes of interest have been tagged with tetramethylrhodamine (TAMRA), the LOD is usually about 1 nM. 

To evaluate linearity, calibration curves were generated for the values of peak areas obtained for analytes of interest against their concentrations in solutions prepared from serial dilutions of a standard mixture. In the case of methyl paraben, solutions with concentrations varying from 0.3 to... 

FIGURE 6.22 Standard calibration curve obtained for methyl paraben. Peak area values represent average value for four replicates. Error bars represent + one standard deviation (%RSD is very small error bars may not be visible at all concentration values). 

The calibration sensitivity of the analytical method employed is simply determined as the slope of the calibration curve. For example, in the case of methyl paraben, the value of calibration sensitivity obtained was 1.6 mAl I/min///M (Figure 6.22). Analytical sensitivity is defined as the ratio between calibration sensitivity and the value of the standard deviation obtained at each concentration.10 The value of the standard deviation encountered for a concentration of 0.6 //M was 0.1, resulting in an analytical sensitivity for methyl paraben at 0.6 //M of 16 m. II/min///M. As indicated for LOD and LOQ, the values obtained for linearity and sensitivity depend on the analytes employed and the corresponding method and instrumental parameters. For example, Liu et al.9 evaluated the LOD and LOQ for Drug A (released from OROS) for a particular analytical method employing //Pl.C to be 0.5 //g/ml. and 2.0 //g/mL, respectively. 

Calculate the selectivity for propyl paraben compared to methyl paraben given the following data ... 

Experiment 46 The Quantitative Determination of Methyl Paraben in a Prepared Sample by HPLC... 

In this experiment, a mixture of methyl, propyl, and butyl paraben (structures shown in Figure 13.14) in methanol solvent will be separated by reverse phase HPLC. Mobile phase compositions of varying polarities will first be tested to see which one gives the optimum resolution of this mixture, and following this, a standard curve for methyl paraben will be constructed and its concentration in this solution determined. 

Prepare a stock standard solution of methyl paraben in methyl alcohol that has a concentration of 2 mg/mL. (Your instructor may choose to prepare this so that he or she can prepare unknowns or controls from it.)... 

From this stock solution, prepare four standard solutions, using methanol as the solvent, having concentrations of 0.05,0.1,0.15, and 0.2 mg of methyl paraben per milliliter, in 50-mL volumetric flasks. Filter these solutions into vials as you did the sample in Part A. 

The capacity factor for methyl paraben is 2.7. The capacity factor for propyl paraben is 4.9. 

Threlfall TL, Gelbrich T (2007) The crystal stracture of methyl paraben at 118 K does not represent anew polymorph. Cryst Growth Des 7 2297... 

To preserve the quality and stability, certain preservative e.g. methyl paraben etc. are also used in dental preparations. 

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