Automated Flow Injection Chromatography for the Rapid Assay of Parabens in Hygiene Wipes

A fully automated flow injection chromatography (FIC) instrument and method are reported for the determination of methylparaben and propylparaben. The system consisted of a computer-controlled MilliGAT precision pump, a six–way injection valve, a peristaltic pump, a monolithic column, and an ultraviolet absorbance detector. The mobile phase composition, flow rate, and sample volume were optimized. The method was fully validated; the calibration plots were linear from 1.0 × 10−6 to 5.0 × 10−5 mol L−1 for both parabens. The limits of detection were 1.0 × 10−7 mol L−1 for methylparaben and 3.0 × 10−7 mol L−1 for propylparaben. The recoveries for both parabens were 97% and the interlaboratory reproducibility was 2.4% for methylpareben and 4.1% for propylparaben at 1.0 × 10−5 mol L−1. The method was employed for the determination of methylparaben and propylparaben in hygiene wipes.