HITACHI High Performance Liquid Chromatograph

Simultaneous Analysis of Phenoxyethanol and Parabens

Paraben is a generic term for p-hydroxybenzoate esters. Due to their low toxicity in the human body, as well as
antiseptic and mold proofing effects, parabens are used as preservatives in medicines, cosmetics, and foods.
Phenoxyethanol is another component used as a germicide and antiseptic in cosmetics. It is a naturally-occurring
compound that is found in substances such as green tea.
Phenoxyethanol is often used in combination with parabens in cosmetics to reduce the added paraben content.
In this presentation, we will introduce and examine the simultaneous analysis of phenoxyethanol and parabens.

■ Measurement examples for standard samples

0.20
1

[Analytical conditions]
0.15 220 nm Column : HITACHI LaChrom C18 (5 μm)
4.6 mm I.D. × 150 mm
Eluent : CH3CN / 0.1 % H3PO4* (v/v) = 35 / 65 (v/v)
0.10 Flow rate : 1.0 mL/min
AU

2
Column temp. : 40 ℃
Detection : DAD 220, 254 nm
3 254 nm Injection vol. : 10 μL
0.05
4 5 * : H3PO4 is of a special grade (85.0 %)
6 7

0.00

0 5 10 15 20 25 30
min

400 0.16000
[Standard Samples]
0.14000 (1) 2-Phenoxyethanol
350 0.12000 (2) Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate
0.10000 (3) Ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate
nm

300 2 3 4 5 0.08000 (4) Isopropyl p-hydroxybenzoate

1 6 7
0.06000
(5) Propyl p-hydroxybenzoate
(6) Isobutyl p-hydroxybenzoate
250 0.04000
(7) Butyl p-hydroxybenzoate
0.02000
10 mg/L each (prepared with methanol)
200 0.00000
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
min
[Contour plot and extraction chromatogram]

0.5
2
0.4 1 The measurement results from the diode array detector show
3
that 2-phenoxyethanol and the parabens have optimum
0.3 4
detection wavelengths at 220 nm and 254 nm, respectively.
AU

5 Accordingly, the following samples were measured with the

0.2 diode array detector, and chromatograms at these optimum
6、7
wavelengths were obtained.
0.1

0.0
200 250 300 350 400
nm
[Absorption spectra of the standard samples]

■ Linearity
Fair linearity was obtained for each sample, with r 2 = 1.000 in the 0.1 - 50 mg/L concentration range.

AS/LC(PM)-002
Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
Page.1
 HITACHI High Performance Liquid Chromatograph

Simultaneous Analysis of Phenoxyethanol and Parabens

 Analysis example of standard samples
Commercial hand cream
[Pretreatment method of the samples]
0.1 g of sample was diluted to 10 mL with methanol and filtered with a 0.2 μm filter.

1. 2-phenoxyethanol
0.6 1 2. Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate
3. Ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate
5. Propyl p-hydroxybenzoate
hand cream hand cream
0.4 Std.1 Std.2

220 nm
AU

250 300 350 400 250 300 350 400

n nm
0.2 2 m

3 254 nm
5
hand cream hand cream
0.0
Std.3 Std.5
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
min
250 300 350 400 250 300 350 400
[Chromatograms obtained at optimum wavelengths] nm nm

[Results]
In this sample, (1) 2-phenoxyethanol, (2) methyl p-hydroxybenzoate, (3) ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate, and
(5) propyl p-hydroxybenzoate were detected. In addition, each peak matches well with a corresponding peak of the standard
sample.

Commercial face lotion

[Pretreatment method of the samples]
0.1 g of sample was diluted to 10 mL with methanol and filtered with a 0.2 μm filter.
0.3
1 1. 2-phenoxyethanol
2. Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate
3. Ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate
7. Butyl p-hydroxybenzoate face lotion face lotion
0.2 Std.2
Std.1
AU

220 nm
250 300 350 400 250 300 350 400
nm nm
0.1 2

254 nm

3 7 face lotion face lotion

0.0 Std.3 Std.7
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
min 250 300 350 400 250 300 350 400
[Chromatograms obtained at optimum wavelengths] nm nm

[Results]
In this sample, (1) 2-phenoxyethanol, (2) methyl p-hydroxybenzoate, (3) ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate, and
(7) butyl p-hydroxybenzoate were detected. In addition, each peak matches well with a corresponding peak of the standard
sample.

Reference : Osaka Prefectural Institute of Public Health Report No. 47, 2009 (Japan)

System configuration : Primaide 1110 Pump, 1210 Auto Sampler, 1310 Column Oven, 1430 DAD

NOTE : These data are an example of measurement; the individual values cannot be guaranteed.
The system is for research use only, and is not intended for any animal or human therapeutic or diagnostic use.

AS/LC(PM)-002
Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
Page.2 (2012a)