Design and optimization of micro-extraction methods for hydroquinone from cosmetic creams

Abstract

The term liquid phase microextraction was first introduced to describe two-phase systems in solvent microextraction. In this method, the sample size is reduced and the method is eupable to detect and measure very low concentration of the analytes. The development of LPME techniques led to a large reduction in the volume ratio of the receiver to the donor phase. This method utilizes immiscible liquid phases (Solvent micro-extraction) or a membrane (membrane extraction) to separate the receptor and donor phases. Aim: Design and optimization of hydroquinone micro-extraction method and determination of its amount in cosmetic hair dye creams due to metrix complexility in these formulations. Materials and methods: In this study, the method of extracting hydroquinone from cosmetic hair dyes by micro-extraction method was optimized. Due to the presence of phenolic functional groups in the structure of hydroquinone, the method optimization was investigated. After effective extraction, the amount of drug was determined using UV-HPLC. Among the factors affecting extraction in this method are the type of solvent extractor and the volume of solvents and the extraction time and salt concentration and PH were optimized. Results: Extraction process and HPLC have performed several times untill suitable method has been attained. Method which had enough sensitivity in measuring with standard hydroquinone sample and could be done in relatively shorter time was repeated for different samples. And then the amount of hydroquinone in 6 different domestic and foreign hair dye cream brands was compared with each other. Conclusion: Hydroquinone levels measured from samples of Iranian and foreign hair dye creams were all within the permitted range set by the European Union