The importance of preservative quantification by HPLC

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Preservatives are chemical substances, either of natural or synthetic origin, with antimicrobial and antioxidant action. They are used with the aim of prolonging the product’s shelf life and preventing the loss of its effectiveness.

These substances are present in numerous cosmetic products; their addition to formulations aims to prevent the proliferation of microorganisms that can alter or modify the appearance and performance of the product, and, in more severe cases, negatively affect the consumer.

The cosmetic sector, recognized as one of the most dynamic and innovative in the chemical industry, has been strongly driven by the growing demand from consumers for safer, more effective, and sustainable products.

This situation has placed significant pressure on manufacturers, who are compelled to reformulate their products and rigorously ensure compliance with increasingly stringent national and international regulations, such as Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, currently in force in the European Union.

The increased use of preservatives has created a growing need for their regulation and corresponding control, both in terms of identification and quantification.

There are several analytical techniques that can assist us in this control, one of which is High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). 

The identification of these substances allows confirmation of the presence or absence of the preservative; meanwhile, quantification provides the value of its concentration, enabling monitoring over time with the goal of assessing its stability.

Thus, determination by HPLC allows the simultaneous analysis of multiple preservatives with high precision and lower detection limits, ensuring more sensitive and reliable results.

Have you already conducted these analyses on your products? You can count on Pharmilab’s support!