Determination of sodium caprylate in plasma volume expanders by gas chromatography

A quantitative gas chromatographic method for the determination of the sodium (caprylate) octanoate, antimicrobial in the plasma volume expanders hydroxyethyl starch and human serum albumin, has been developed. The sodium caprylate and the internal standard were converted to pentafluorobenzyl derivatives. The reaction mixture was extracted with methylene chloride and chromatographed on a 1.8-m OV-17 column at 170 degrees C with flame ionization detection. The method is linear over the concentration range studied (40-700 micrograms/ml). The method is precise (coefficient of variation less than 2%).