Determination of ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid in aqueous rinses of detergent-washed rubber stoppers of pharmaceutical vials using solid-phase extraction and capillary gas chromatography

Abstract

A fused silica capillary gas chromatographic method is presented for the determination of traces of ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid (EDTA) in aqueous rinses of rubber stoppers of pharmaceutical vials after treatment with detergents containing EDTA. Isolation and enrichment of EDTA from the aqueous medium is achieved using a commercially available strong anion-exchange solid-phase extraction cartridge, transformed to the formate form. A 2.0-ml volume of methanolic HCl is used for both elution of EDTA from the extraction column and formation of the tetramethyl ester derivative. With the incorporation of a methanolic wash to eliminate interfering components prior to elution with methanolic HCl, a limit of detection of 25 ng EDTA per ml water with a non-selective flame ionization detector is possible.