Page 10 - Application Notebook - Hand Sanitizer Analysis

No. SSI-GC-2005

Hand Sanitizer Samples
Two hand sanitizer samples were analyzed, one Table 2: Concentration of alcohols in hand sanitizer samples.
containing ethanol and the other IPA. Each sample Results are average of four injections. And the relative
was diluted 100-fold in IS solution for this analysis. standard deviation (RSD) for the repeated injections was also
shown for each sample.
The concentration of alcohol content is calculated by
multiplying the concentration reported from the Sample 1 Sample 2
software by 100. Ethanol conc. (v/v) 59.11 not detected
IPA conc. (v/v)
56.40
not detected
RSD 2.677% 1.175%
uV
2400000
2300000
2200000
2100000 Hand sanitizer sample 1
2000000
1900000 Hand sanitizer sample 2
1800000 Blank (Internal standard only)
1700000
1600000 injected after samples
1500000
1400000
1300000
1200000
1100000
1000000
900000
800000
700000
600000
500000
400000
300000
200000
100000
0
-100000
2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0 5.5 6.0 6.5 7.0 7.5 min

Figure 3: Chromatograms of hand sanitizer samples and a blank injected after the samples. No carryover of analytes was observed

■ Conclusion
Alcohol content in two hand sanitizer samples was Nitrogen was successfully used as the carrier gas in
successfully analyzed using Shimadzu GC-2030 on a this assay. Compared to helium, nitrogen is more
Rxi-624Sil MS column using N2 carrier gas. One of cost-effective. It is also more inert thus safer than
the samples contains ethanol, while the other hydrogen, which is another commonly used cost-
contains isopropanol (IPA). The method used in this saving alternative carrier gas. Taken together, both
study was modified from USP standard general ethanol and IPA content in hand sanitizers can be
chapter 611, alcohol determination. The calibration easily determined using Shimadzu GC-2030 with SPL
curves for both ethanol and IPA were linear with r > and FID with nitrogen carrier gas.
2
0.999, and the analysis was straightforward with
very good repeatability (RSD < 3% for both samples). ■ Reference
1. USP General Chapter 611, Alcohol Determination.