Analysis, purification and stability: requirements for a metabolism study of an azo dye and pigment

Impurities of aromatic amines in the azo dye and pigment, Direct Black 38 and Pigment Yellow 12, and in vitro stability of the dye were determined. These factors can affect the results of studies designed to ascertain whether the two compounds are metabolized to potential carcinogens in hamsters. Procedures for removing impurities from the two compounds are also presented. Electron-capture gas chromatography of the heptafluorobutyryl derivatives of the impurities and degradation products was used to satisfy all the analytical requirements of the experiments. Major impurities found in Direct Black 28 were benzidine, 4-aminobiphenyl and 2,4-diaminoazobenzene; whereas, only 3,3'-dichlorobenzidine was found in Pigment Yellow 12. Stability studies of the purified dye conducted in water and in urine from hamsters and humans indicated that the dye would not degrade under the conditions used for collecting and assaying samples from a metabolism experiment. However, within 48 hours at 25 and 37.5 degrees C, the dye did degrade to known carcinogens in both hamster and human urine. Such degradation not only points out the need for proper storage of samples from metabolism studies but suggests that industrial effluents containing the dye should be properly treated before release into the environment.