Simplified assay of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol in various raw materials by capillary gas chromatography. 2010

K Molever
Research and Development Department, The Dial Corporation, a Henkel Company, Scottsdale, AZ 85255, USA.

The FDA has recently taken steps to reduce risks due to raw materials affected by economically motivated adulteration (EMA). One area of great interest is diethylene glycol (DEG) or ethylene glycol (EG) adulteration of glycerin, propylene glycol, and solutions of sorbitol, for which the USP monographs have recently been revised (1). Such adulterations have occurred many times and in many countries, including a tragic episode between November 2008 and January 2009 in which 84 children in Nigeria died after ingesting teething syrup contaminated with DEG (9,10). To eliminate this problem, the FDA has required manufacturers of finished products to assay and confirm that incoming glycerin, propylene glycol, and sorbitol solutions meet the USP limits, and the FDA/USP has incorporated such testing into the identity requirements of its updated monographs.Unfortunately, even though USP test procedures detail a simultaneous DEG and EG assay for these materials, different standard solutions are specified depending upon whether the incoming sample is glycerin, propylene glycol, or a sorbitol solution; in addition, a certain gas chromatography (GC) capillary phase is detailed for sorbitol solutions, while the assays for glycerin and propylene glycol use a different capillary phase, requiring column changeovers, separate GC systems, or front/rear column configuration. In addition, NF monographs for polyethylene glycols (PEG) and polyethylene glycol monomethyl ethers (MPEG) used in pharmaceutical products also require DEG and EG testing (detailing their own specific tests); three separate test procedures for these types of raw materials (the larger PEG-type polymers are assayed differently than their smaller counterparts), making assay at QC unwieldy.This paper describes a single, simple test procedure that is applicable to the simultaneous assay of DEG and EG in all types of the described raw materials, using one standard solution. The assay procedure involves straightforward isolation, trimethylsilylation, and simultaneous capillary gas chromatographic quantitation using capillary GC with flame ionization detection. Although the USP-NF limits are 0.10% DEG and 0.10% EG (and 0.25% total DEG plus EG for the PEG and MPEG products), in reality any EMA would be at levels significantly higher than that, as low-level illegal EMA would not be economically advantageous. The scope of this project was not to fully validate this technique for inclusion in USP-NF, but just to demonstrate its applicability for those wishing to utilize it or take it further.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D002849 Chromatography, Gas Fractionation of a vaporized sample as a consequence of partition between a mobile gaseous phase and a stationary phase held in a column. Two types are gas-solid chromatography, where the fixed phase is a solid, and gas-liquid, in which the stationary phase is a nonvolatile liquid supported on an inert solid matrix. Chromatography, Gas-Liquid,Gas Chromatography,Chromatographies, Gas,Chromatographies, Gas-Liquid,Chromatography, Gas Liquid,Gas Chromatographies,Gas-Liquid Chromatographies,Gas-Liquid Chromatography
D005026 Ethylene Glycols An ethylene compound with two hydroxy groups (-OH) located on adjacent carbons. They are viscous and colorless liquids. Some are used as anesthetics or hypnotics. However, the class is best known for their use as a coolant or antifreeze. Dihydroxyethanes,Ethanediols,Glycols, Ethylene
D005990 Glycerol A trihydroxy sugar alcohol that is an intermediate in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. It is used as a solvent, emollient, pharmaceutical agent, or sweetening agent. 1,2,3-Propanetriol,Glycerin,1,2,3-Trihydroxypropane,Glycerine
D013012 Sorbitol A polyhydric alcohol with about half the sweetness of sucrose. Sorbitol occurs naturally and is also produced synthetically from glucose. It was formerly used as a diuretic and may still be used as a laxative and in irrigating solutions for some surgical procedures. It is also used in many manufacturing processes, as a pharmaceutical aid, and in several research applications. Glucitol,Medevac,Sorbilax,Yal,klysma Sorbit
D014481 United States A country in NORTH AMERICA between CANADA and MEXICO.
D014486 United States Food and Drug Administration An agency of the PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE concerned with the overall planning, promoting, and administering of programs pertaining to maintaining standards of quality of foods, drugs, therapeutic devices, etc. Food and Drug Administration (U.S.),USFDA,Food and Drug Administration,United States Food, Drug Administration
D019855 Ethylene Glycol A colorless, odorless, viscous dihydroxy alcohol. It has a sweet taste, but is poisonous if ingested. Ethylene glycol is the most important glycol commercially available and is manufactured on a large scale in the United States. It is used as an antifreeze and coolant, in hydraulic fluids, and in the manufacture of low-freezing dynamites and resins. 1,2-Ethanediol,2-Hydroxyethanol,Monoethylene Glycol,1,2 Ethanediol,2 Hydroxyethanol,Glycol, Ethylene,Glycol, Monoethylene
D019946 Propylene Glycol A clear, colorless, viscous organic solvent and diluent used in pharmaceutical preparations. 1,2-Propanediol,Propan-1,2-Diol,Propylene Glycol Monohydrate,Propylene Glycol Sodium Salt,Propylene Glycol, (+-)-Isomer,Propylene Glycol, (R)-Isomer,Propylene Glycol, (S)-Isomer,1,2 Propanediol,Glycol, Propylene,Monohydrate, Propylene Glycol

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