HPLC Determination of Boric Acid and Borax in Essence and Perfume with Precolumn Derivatization

Boric acid in samples of essence and perfume was derivatized with curcumin (dissolved in acetic acid) at room temperature. The derivatized product of boron was used for HPLC analysis, using Hypersil ODS2 chromatographic column (4.6 mm×250 mm, 5 μm) as stationary phase and mixtures of methanol and 0.012 mol·L-1 TBABr (80+20) as mobile phase. Based on the quantitative conversion of borax into boric acid in sulfuric acid medium, borax was determined by indirect determination of boric acid. Linear relationship was found between values of peak area determined at wavelength of 550 nm and mass concentration of boron in the range of 0.004-0.2 mg·L-1, with detection limit (3s) of 4.0×10-4mg·L-1. Tests for recovery were performed by standard addition method at 3 concentration levels; results of recovery of boric acid and borax found were in the ranges of 92.1%-106.6% and 92.9%-107.1% respectively.