HPLC DETERMINATION OF FORMALDEHYDE IN COSMETICS

HPLC was applied to the determination of formaldehyde in cosmetics.Formaldehyde in cosmetic sample was extracted with acetonitrile.An aliquot of the extract was taken and derivatized with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine in a weakly acidic medium.The derivatized product was determined by HPLC.The Supelco Discovery C18 column (4.6 mm×250 mm,5 μm) was used in the analysis.The mobile phase used was a mixture of acetonitrile and water with a ratio of 65 to 35 by volume.The flow-rate chosen was 1.0 mL·min-1.UV-detection was made at the wavelength of 365 nm.Precision and recovery tests were made at the concentration level of 5.0,50.0 and 100.0 μg·g-1 of formaldehyde,and the results obtained were as follows: recovery in the range of 70%-102%,RSD<5.0%,detection limit 5.0 μg·g-1.