Gas chromatography with mass spectrometry for the quantification of ethylene glycol ethers in different household cleaning products

A rapid and simple procedure is reported for the determination of six ethylene glycol ethers in cleaning products and detergents using gas chromatography with mass spectrometry. The analytes were extracted from 2.0 g samples in acetonitrile (3 mL) and the extract was submitted to a clean‐up step by QuEChERS method, using a mixture containing 0.3 g magnesium sulfate, 0.15 g primary/secondary amine, and 0.05 g C₁₈. The clean acetonitrile extract (1 μL) was injected into the chromatographic system. No matrix effect was observed, so the quantification of the samples was carried out against external standards. Detection limits were in the range 3.0–27 ng/g for the six ethylene glycol ethers. The recoveries obtained, using the optimized procedure, were in the 89.4–118% range, with relative standard deviations lower than 14%. Twenty‐three different household cleaning products, including glass cleaner, degreaser, floor, softeners, and clothes and dishwashing detergents, were analyzed. Large interindividual variations were observed between samples and compounds.