Analysis of piperazine drug formulations for N-nitrosamines

A quantitative method is described for the measurement of N-mononitrosopiperazine (NPIP) and N,N'-dinitrosopiperazine (DNPIP) in drug formulations containing piperazine, using a gas chromatograph interfaced to a thermal energy analyzer (GC/TEA). The method has detection limits of 20 ppb for NPIP and 12 ppb for DNPIP. In a survey of 6 products available on the Canadian market, all contained NPIP at levels of 0.38-15.3 micrograms NPIP/g piperazine and none contained any detectable amount of DNPIP.