Quality control in residual solvent analysis: the static headspace gas chromatographic method

 Residual solvent testing of raw materials and drug products constitutes part of a quality control programme. Static headspace gas chromatography (HS/GC) is suggested in current pharmacopoeias as a general tool for residual solvent testing. But the main obstacles to using HS/GC procedures are the absence of performance tests, suitable reference solvents and matrix standards, and reference methods. Harmonized regulations for residual solvent testing allow the use of a cumulative approach to estimate the residual solvent content in drug products. The supplier data may be appropriate. Therefore, in a quality control programme the main accent is put on the definition of specification limits (in accordance with toxicological data, and the influence of residual solvents on the physical properties and stability of the product) and supplier qualification. This paper focuses on two main problems linked to supplier qualification: system performance and matrix effect. HS/GC of a mixture containing solvents of different volatility and polarity is proposed as a performance test. The test can be done in three ways in accordance with the residual solvents characteristics, the test sample solubility and the specification levels required. The use of the test as a diagnostic tool is demonstrated and sources of uncertainty of the recovery determination are discussed. Received: 12 December 1998 · Accepted: 25 January 1999     

A generic static headspace gas chromatography method for determination of residual solvents in drug substance

In order to increase productivity of drug analysis in the pharmaceutical industry, an efficient and sensitive generic static headspace gas chromatography (HSGC) method was successfully developed and validated for the determination of 44 classes 2 and 3 solvents of International Conference of Harmonization (ICH) guideline Q3C, as residual solvents in drug substance. In order to increase the method sensitivity and efficiency in sample equilibration, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) was selected as the sample diluent based on its high capacity of dissolving drug substance, stability and high boiling point. The HS sample equilibration temperature and equilibration time are assessed in ranges of 125–150 °C and 8–15 min, respectively. The results indicate that the residual solvents in 200 mg of drug substance can be equilibrated efficiently in HS sampler at 140 °C for 10 min. The GC parameters, e.g. sample split ratio, carrier flow rate and oven temperature gradient are manipulated to enhance the method sensitivity and separation efficiency. The two-stage gradient GC run from 35 to 240 °C, using an Agilent DB-624 capillary column (30 m long, 0.32 mm I.D., 1.8 μm film thickness), is suitable to determine 44 ICH classes 2 and 3 solvents in 30 min. The method validation results indicate that the method is accurate, precise, linear and sensitive for solvents assessed. The recoveries of most of these solvents from four drug substances are greater than 80% within the method determination ranges. However, this method is not suitable for the 10 remaining ICH classes 2 and 3 solvents, because they are too polar (e.g. formic acid and acidic acid), or have boiling points higher than 150 °C, (e.g. anisol and cumene). In comparison with the previous published methods, this method has a much shorter sample equilibration time, a better separation for many solvents, a higher sensitivity and a broader concentration range.     

吹扫捕集GC-MS法测定水中的丙酮和丁酮

建立吹扫捕集气相色谱-质谱法测定水中丙酮和丁酮的检测方法。对吹扫捕集条件进行优化,吹扫温度为20℃,吹扫时间为11 min,脱附温度为245℃,脱附时间为2 min。在全扫描模式下进行定性分析,在选择性离子扫描模式下进行定量分析。在优化实验条件下,丙酮和丁酮的质量浓度在5~200μg/L范围内与其响应值呈良好线性关系(r~2≥0.990),检出限分别为0.01,0.05μg/L,加标回收率分别为100.8%~116.9%,84.5%~101.4%,测定结果的相对标准偏差分别为0.94%~4.83%,0.67%~2.69%(n=6)。该方法检出限低,精密度、准确度高,适用于生活饮用水、地表水、地下水、生活污水和工业废水中丙酮和丁酮的分析。     

Sn-promoting mechanism for ketone hydrogenation over Rh/SiO2

Hydrogenation of acetophenone, 2-butanone, styrene and 1-hexene over Rh---Sn/SiO₂ in heterogeneous liquid phase reaction systems was studied by in situ EXAFS, FT-IR, TEM, analytical TEM, CO and H₂ adsorption measurements. The catalytic activity of Rh/SiO₂ for hydrogenation of acetophenone and 2-butanone increased by a factor of 5–500 by Sn addition, showing a maximum activity at surface composition Sn_s/Rh_s = 1.5, whereas hydrogenation of styrene and 1-hexene decreased monotonously and drastically by Sn addition. In situ Sn K-edge EXAFS of the well characterized CVD-Rh---Sn/SiO₂ catalyst prepared by using Sn(CH₃)₄ vapor suggested that oxygen of C=O group makes a bond with Sn atom upon acetophenone adsorption.     

Solid-phase microextraction method for carbon isotopic analysis of volatile carboxylic acids in human plasma by gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry

A new analytical method is described for the determination of the physiological concentration and low-level enrichment of (13)C-short-chain volatile organic acids (SCVAs) (e.g. (13)C-acetate and (13)C-butyrate) in human plasma. This two-step method involves solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled to gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/C/IRMS) without any organic solvents or derivatizing agents. Two SCVA extraction methods were compared using a carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane fiber: headspace sampling (HS) and liquid sampling (LS) SPME. The influences of extraction temperature and time were tested to optimize the adsorption of SCVAs onto the fiber. The comparison of the peak area responses of the acids in the two adsorption methods showed better sensitivity in the human physiological concentration range in the LS mode than in the HS mode.The accuracy of isotopic enrichment measurement was determined using plasma spiked with (13)C-acetate and (13)C-butyrate solution from 0 to 1 mol percent excess (MPE). The linearity and repeatability (RSD < 5%) were measured in LS mode. Plasma SCVA concentrations were also determined relative to 3-methylvalerate (internal standard). Linearity and repeatability were observed from 0 to 400 microM for acetate, from 0 to 20 microM for propionate, and from 0 to 10 microM for butyrate. This method was also used to determine plasma acetate production obtained from lactulose (an undigestible disaccharide) fermentation in one healthy volunteer over 3 h. The acetate concentration increased twofold, 2 h after oral lactulose intake. These results are in agreement with the data obtained by GC/MS in healthy volunteers and obese adults following a lactulose intake by using higher amounts of labelled tracers.SPME coupled with GC/C/IRMS can be used to analyze (13)C-SCVAs at low enrichment (<0.5 MPE) within the physiological concentration measured in human plasma.     

Recognition of alkyl ketone molecules based on thickness-shear-mode acoustic sensors with calixarene derivatives

The frequency response characteristics for twenty-two organic vapours by piezoelectric thickness-shear-mode (TSM) acoustic wave sensors coated with four supramolecule compounds—calixarenes have been investigated. Among them, 2,8,14,20-tetraethyl-4,6,10,12,16,18,22,24-octahydroxylcalix[4]arene (I) was the most efficient actively adsorptive material for host-guest recognizing alkyl ketone molecules such as 2-butanone and acetone. The supramolecule recognition mechanism has been discussed, that is based on the formation of C-H?π bond interaction between the methyl group of ketone molecule and the phenyl ring of the calixarene compound. The linear range of the TSM sensor upon exposure to 2-butanone vapour was 0-940.5 ppm with a detection limit of 2.67 ppm when the coating mass of the compound I was selected as 19 μg. The kinetics behaviours in the adsorption and desorption processes have been examined with polynomial curve fitting procedure. Furthermore, the proposed TSM sensor possessed good selectivity, reversibility, reproducibility and high stability. Compared with gas chromatography (GC) method, the proposed sensor can be used for on-line determination of 2-butanone vapour in air with a recovery of 94.8-106.5%, which was in consistent with those obtained by GC method.     

Microwave-assisted immobilization of β-cyclodextrin on PEGylated Merrifield resins

β-Cyclodextrin was immobilized on PEGylated Merrifield resin through cross-linking with 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDI) reagent, using conventional and microwave-assisted methodologies. FT-IR analysis of the solid intermediates indicated the attachment of the linker arm to the resin due the appearance of characteristic bands centered at 1716 and 2270 cm⁻¹ and the attachment of cyclodextrin to the resin was accompanied with increased absorption at the OH stretching regions (3330-3400 cm⁻¹). β-Cyclodextrin linked PEGylated resins are water insoluble and can be used to trap volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from water and subsequently be analyzed by headspace HS/GC, after simple filtration and drying steps.     

Optimization of a novel headspace–solid‐phase microextraction–gas chromatographic method by means of a Doehlert uniform shell design for the analysis of trace level ethylene oxide residuals in sterilized medical devices

Medical devices sterilized by ethylene oxide (EtO) retain trace quantities of EtO residuals, which may irritate patients' tissue. Reliably quantifying trace level EtO residuals in small medical devices requires an extremely sensitive analytical method. In this research, a Doehlert uniform shell design was utilized in obtaining a response surface to optimize a novel headspace–solid‐phase microextraction–gas chromatographic (HS‐SPME‐GC) method developed for analyzing trace levels of EtO residuals in sterilized medical devices, by evaluating sterilized, polymer‐coated, drug‐eluting cardiovascular stents. The effects of four independent experimental variables (HS‐SPME desorption time, extraction temperature, GC inlet temperature and extraction time) on GC peak area response of EtO were investigated simultaneously and the most influential experimental variables determined were extraction temperature and GC inlet temperature, with the fitted model showing no evidence of lack‐of‐fit. The optimized HS‐SPME‐GC method demonstrated overall good linearity/linear range, accuracy, repeatability, reproducibility, absolute recovery and high sensitivity. This novel method was successfully applied to analysis of trace levels of EtO residuals in sterilized/aerated cardiovascular stents of various lengths and internal diameter, where, upon heating, trace EtO residuals fully volatilized into HS for extraction, thereby nullifying matrix effects. As an alternative, this novel HS‐SPME‐GC method can offer higher sensitivity compared with conventional headspace analyzer‐based sampling. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evaluation of headspace solid-phase microextraction for analysis of phosphine residues in wheat

In headspace (HS) analysis, a fumigant is released from a commodity into a gas-tight container by grinding, heating, or microwaves. A new technique uses HS-solid-phase microextraction (SPME) for additional preconcentration of fumigant. HS-SPME was tested for detection of phosphine (PH3), chosen for examination because of its wide use on stored commodities. PH3 was applied to 50 g wheat in separate 250 mL sealed flasks, which were equipped either with a septum for conventional HS analysis or with one of four HS-SPME fibers [100 microm polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), 85 microm carboxen (CAR)/PDMS, 75 microm CAR/PDMS, and 65 pm PDMS/divinylbenzene (DVB)]. The wheat was heated at 45 degrees C for 20 min. In conventional HS analysis, a gaseous aliquot (80 pL) was taken from the HS and injected into the GC instrument. In the HS-SPME procedure, the fiber was removed from the HS and exposed in the heated injection port of the GC instrument. In all cases, PH3 was determined under the same chromatographic conditions with a GC pulsed flame photometric detector. In a comparison of the efficacy of the fibers, the bipolar fibers (CAR/PDMS and PDMS/DVB) contained more PH3 than the aliquot in the conventional HS analysis; larger size bipolar fibers extracted PH3 more efficiently than smaller fibers (e.g., 85 > 75 > 65 microm). The nonpolar fiber (PDMS) contained no PH3. Four fortification levels of PH3 on wheat were tested: 0.01, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.3 microg/g. The response of each bipolar fiber increased with the fortification levels, but the conventional HS analysis detected no fumigant at the lowest fortification level of 0.01 mg/g. Under the conditions of the validation study, the LOD was in the range of 0.005-0.01 ng PH3/g wheat.     

Determination of ligustilide in rat blood and tissues by capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

A gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method was developed to study the pharmacokinetics of ligustilide following oral administration to rats. The method was used for the analysis of samples taken from rats. Biological samples were prepared by liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) using an n-hexane-ether (2:1) solvent mixture for a sample clean-up step and analyzed by GC/MS with a quadrupole MS detector in selected ion monitoring mode (m/z 190). The calibration curves were linear over the concentration range 0.172-8.60 microg/mL (r > 0.99) for blood samples and a different range (r > 0.99) for different tissue samples. The limit of detection (LOD) was 1.0 ng/mL or 1.0 ng/g (three times the signal-noise ratio). Within- and between-day precision expressed as the relative standard deviation (RSD) for the method was 1.58-3.88 and 2.99-4.91%, respectively. The recovery for all samples was >80%, except for liver samples (>70%). The main pharmacokinetic parameters obtained were: T(max) = 0.65 +/- 0.07 h, C(max) = 1.5 +/- 0.2 microg/mL, AUC = 34 +/- 6 h microg/mL and K(a) = 3.5 +/- 0.6/h. The experimental results showed that ligustilide was easily absorbed, but its elimination was slow, from 3 to 12 h after oral administration. The concentrations of ligustilide in rat cerebellum, cerebrum, spleen and kidney were higher than those in other organs.     

顶空固相微萃取-气相法测定酒中的甲醇和杂醇油

 采用环氧树脂作为固相涂层制作固相微萃取 (SPME)装置 ,建立了顶空固相微萃取 气相法 (HS SPME GC)测定酒精饮料中甲醇和杂醇油的方法 ,并对萃取条件和条件进行了优化。方法的检出限为 0 0 2mg/L～0 0 4mg/L ,相对标准偏差为 1 4 %～ 4 1% ;与顶空气相法相比 ,灵敏度可提高 2 0倍～ 30 0倍。将该法用于啤酒、葡萄酒和保健酒中的甲醇和杂醇油的测定 ,加标回收率为 80 8%～ 110 3% ;与顶空气相法 (国家标准方法 )进行了比较 ,相对误差不大于 7 3%。该法简便、快速、灵敏、精密度好 ,拓宽了SPME的应用范围。     

GC Methods for the Determination of Methanol and Ethanol in Insulating Mineral Oils as Markers of Cellulose Degradation in Power Transformers

Methanol and ethanol in transformer oils have been recently proposed as new markers of thermal and mechanical degradation of cellulose (the solid insulation in power transformers). In this work, we optimized and compared the performance of two headspace gas chromatographic methods based on flame ionization (HS–GC–FID) and mass spectrometry detection (HS–GC–MS) to determine methanol and ethanol in insulating mineral oil. For methanol and ethanol, the detection limits were 12 and 27 μg kg^?1 (HS–GC–FID) and 1.3 and 3.1 μg kg^?1 (HS–GC–MS). Repeatability was evaluated in transformer oils for both the methods at different concentration levels of analytes and RSD values were found to lie between 1.8 and 16 %. The accuracy of the methods was assessed under a proficiency test (Cigré JWG A2/D1.46). The methods were compared by a F-test and a one-sided paired t test performed on 21 transformer oils in service. Correlations of methanol and ethanol content in sampled oils against their actual time of service are provided. For each sample, the content of traditional markers (furan-2-carbaldehyde and CO₂) was also measured, finding a correlation between light alcohols and CO₂ content. This indicates that methanol and ethanol determination may be helpful in providing further information on the thermal degradation conditions of transformers’ solid insulation. The method developed is currently routinely applied by the laboratories of Sea Marconi Technologies for the assessment of transformers’ conditions.     

Solvothermal process for grafting maleic anhydride onto poly(ethylene 1-octene)

Solvothermal process was developed to graft maleic anhydride (MAH) onto poly(ethylene 1-octene) (POE). Fourier transform infrared spectra (FT-IR) and ¹H NMR spectra confirmed that maleic anhydride was successfully grafted onto the POE. The influences of MAH content, initiator concentration, POE concentration, reaction temperature, reaction time and solvents on the graft copolymerization were investigated through both of the grafting degree (GD) and gel content (GC). The results demonstrated that high grafting degree (up to 10.85%) could be obtained while the gel content was still low. Further studies revealed that POE-g-MAH could also be achieved in poor solvents of POE through this method.     

Utilizing two detectors in the measurement of trichloroacetic acid in human urine by reaction headspace gas chromatography

A reaction headspace gas chromatography (HS‐GC) technique was investigated for quantitatively analyzing trichloroacetic acid in human urine. This method is based on the decomposition reaction of trichloroacetic acid under high‐temperature conditions. The carbon dioxide and chloroform formed from the decomposition reaction can be respectively detected by the thermal conductivity detection HS‐GC and flame ionization detection HS‐GC. The reaction can be completed in 60 min at 90°C. This method was used to quantify 25 different human urine samples, which had a range of trichloroacetic acid from 0.52 to 3.47 mg/L. It also utilized two different detectors, the thermal conductivity detector and the flame ionization detector. The present reaction HS‐GC method is accurate, reliable and well suitable for batch detection of trichloroacetic acid in human urine.     

白酒基酒中酮类物质的近红外光谱检测方法

应用近红外光谱技术建立了白酒基酒中2,3-丁二酮和3-羟基-2-丁酮的快速检测模型。从洛阳杜康酒厂选取182个白酒基酒样品为材料,运用气相色谱法测得两种物质的化学值,同时采集其在12 000~4 000 cm-1范围内的光谱数据,采用偏最小二乘法(PLS)结合内部交叉验证建立校正模型。通过对比不同光谱预处理下PLS模型效果对其进行优化,确定2,3-丁二酮和3-羟基-2 丁酮的最佳预处理方法分别为一阶导数+多元散射校正和二阶导数,最佳光谱区间分别为9 403.2~7 497.9 cm-1和9 403.2~7 497.9 cm-1+6 101.7~5 449.8 cm-1。优化后2,3-丁二酮和3 羟基-2-丁酮校正集样品的化学值和近红外预测值的决定系数(R2)分别为0.960 2和0.963 2,交叉验证均方根误差(RMSECV)分别为0.39、0.22 mg/100 mL;通过外部检验,验证集样品的R2分别为0.957 6和0.957 8,预测均方根误差(RMSEP)分别为0.40、0.24 mg/100 mL。结果表明,应用近红外光谱技术结合化学计量学方法所建立的模型有较高的准确度,能够满足白酒生产中酮类物质的快速检测需要。     

GC/FT-IR: A unique choice for solvent analysis

The analysis of solvents for both purity and component identifications is routinely performed by gas chromatography (GC). Coupling it with the latest FT-IR systems results in a technique which yields ppm sensitivity and excellent library search results.     

Bioactive principles,anti-diabetic,and anti-ulcer activities of Ducrosia anethifolia Boiss leaves from the Hail region,Saudi Arabia

This work aimed to identify the bioactive constituents of Ducrosia anethifolia Boiss eaves through cold methanolic extract. The GC–MS study of cold methanolic extract showed the presence of various pharmaceutically important bioactive compounds with unique peaks at specified retention time. The significant compounds are α-linoleic acid, α-sitosterol, n-hexadecanoic acid, palmitic acid β-monoglyceride, 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol and benzoic acid, methyl ester. The FT-IR study showed them fingerprint region at 3326.80, 2943.53, 2831.74, 1450, 1110.67 and 1020.80 cm^?1. The FT-IR study suggested the presence of glycosides, flavonoids, tannins, steroids, saponins, fatty acids and squalene. Oral administration of Ducrosia anethifolia Boiss leaves powder (DLP) (100 mg/kg body weight) was successfully reduced the blood sugar level after 14 d treatment in STZ (50 mg/kg bodyweight) induced diabetic rats significantly from 327.93 ± 24.5 to 171 0.03 ± 3.78 mg/dL. Furthermore, DLP (400 mg/kg body weight) was showed 74 ± 1.9 % inhibition of ulcer. The results of this study showed that DLP has both anti-diabetic and anti-ulcer characteristics when tested in vivo.     

Gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric determination of vinyl acetate levels in air

The determination of vinyl acetate at parts per 10⁹ by volume (ppbv) levels in air by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was achieved by optimizing the GC conditions and choosing specific extraction solvents that are sufficiently pure. The ideal solvent should not give rise to fragment ions at m/z 43, in order to rule out any possible interference during the monitoring of the same vinyl acetate ion. Traces of acetone and butan-2-one in solvents suitable for this GC/MS determination may also mislead the detection of vinyl acetate. A 440 μl volume of a mixture of tetrachloroethylene containing 9% acetonitrile allowed the recovery of more than 90% of the ester with a detection limit of 1.5 ppbv in air together with a good linearity of response.     

2-甲基吡啶在不同有机物/水混合溶剂中的电氧化研究

通过循环伏安、线性扫描伏安测量和恒电位电解实验, 在以质子交换膜为隔膜的电解槽内, 分别以丙酮、乙腈和2-丁酮3种有机物与水作混合溶剂, 研究了2-甲基吡啶在PbO2电极上的电氧化行为. 与纯水溶剂比较发现, 在丙酮与水混合溶剂中, 2-甲基吡啶电氧化生成2-吡啶甲酸的选择性和电流效率最高, 阳极氧化电流密度也明显提高, 完全可以替代在纯水溶液中进行2-甲基吡啶电氧化反应.     

3-甲基吡啶在有机物/水混合溶剂中的电氧化

在质子交换膜为隔膜的电解槽内,以丙酮、乙腈和2-丁酮与水分别构成混合溶剂体系,通过循环伏安和恒电位电解实验,探索了3-甲基吡啶在混合溶剂中在PbO2电极上的电氧化条件,并与纯水溶剂的情况相比,研究了氧化电流密度及生成烟酸的选择性和电流效率的变化.