Determination of vitamins K1 and K3 in green tea and in pharmaceutical supplements by capillary micellar electrokinetic chromatography

Abstract

A method based on capillary micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) was developed for vitamin K1 and K3 determination. Experimental and instrumental parameters optimized for electrophoretic separation with better peak efficiency were: borate buffer at 0.05 mol L−1, pH 8.5, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) at 0.05 mol L−1, acetonitrile 20 % v/v, 25 °C and a negative potential difference of 30 kV. Sample introduction was made by hydrodynamic at 50 mbar for 15 s. Migration times for vitamins K1 and K3 were (5.2 ± 0.1) and (3.4 ± 0.1) min respectively. Limits of detection and quantification were on the order of 10−5 g L−1 and 10−4 g L−1. For vitamin K1, the precision was between 2 and 7 % for the peak area. Recoveries were 101 ± 2 % and 103 ± 2 % for green tea and vitamin supplement samples, respectively. For vitamin K3, recoveries were 99 ± 3 % for vitamin supplement. Comparative tests were performed with the reference method based on liquid chromatography with agreement of results. The uncertainty and the contribution of the relevant sources was carefully evaluated. The method was found adequate to enable reliable and sensitive measurements of different forms of vitamin K with low consumption of solvents and less generation of waste.