Reversed phase ion-pair high performance liquid chromatographic gradient separation of related impurities in 2,4-disulfonic acid benzaldehyde di-sodium salt

A reversed phase ion-pair gradient liquid chromatographic method has been developed and validated for purity determination of the hydrophilic compound 2,4-disulfonic acid benzaldehyde di-sodium salt (2,4-DSAD) containing both hydrophilic and more lipophilic related impurities. Mixtures of acetonitrile-phosphate buffer containing tetrahexylammonium hydrogen sulfate as the ion-pairing reagent were used as the mobile phase. A linear gradient, which generated simultaneous change in the concentration of organic modifier, buffer concentration and the concentration of ion-pairing reagent, was applied. The method allows detection of impurities at low levels (0.01% w/w). Excellent repeatability for both retention time (RSD< or =0.3%, n = 6) and detector response (RSD = 0.03%, n = 6 for the main peak and RSD = 6%, n = 6, for an impurity at 0.01 area% level) was obtained. The method was shown to be robust for routine analysis and has been successfully transferred to the quality control laboratory.