[Determination method of tricresyl phosphate in polyvinyl chloride]

A simple and rapid method using HPLC was developed for the determination of tricresyl phosphate (TCP) in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) articles. A test sample was extracted with acetonitrile at 37 degrees C overnight. The extract solution diluted with an equivalent amount of water was applied to a Sep-Pak C18 cartridge, and TCP was eluted with acetonitrile-water (2:1) mixture. The eluate was analyzed by HPLC with an Inertsil Ph-3 column, using 65% acetonitrile/water as the mobile phase, with UV detection (264 nm). The calibration curve was rectilinear from 0.5 to 100 micrograms/mL. The recoveries of TCP added to various kinds of PVC articles at the level of 1,000 micrograms/g were 84.7-98.6%. The determination limit of TCP was 50 micrograms/g in samples. This method was applied to products including 3.1, 6.6 and 8.8% TCP and the recoveries of TCP were 87.3-91.4%. This method is very simple, and it seems suitable for a regulatory test.