Micro-determination of p-hydroxybenzoic esters in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics

A rapid and specific method is described for the determination of microamounts of methyl, propyl, and butyl p-hydroxybenzoic esters (parabens) in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. The method involves the direct extraction of parabens into benzene or chloroform followed by derivatization with phosphorochloridate. The diethyl phosphate ester derivatives are cleaned up on a Florisil minicolumn and finally measured by gas-liquid chromatography on 5% OV-210 on Gas-Chrom Q. A flame photometric detector or a KCl thermionic detector may be used. The concentration response was linear up to 40 ng parabens. The reproducibility and margin or error were tested with fortified samples. This method may be applied to the estimation of other phenol derivatives.