Characterization of Polymers Used as Pharmaceutical Excipients by Dynamic Headspace Gas Chromatography — Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

The use of dynamic headspace, a continuous gas extraction technique, for the analysis of volatile compounds in polymers is discussed. The present work presents the principles of dynamic headspace and its use in combination with capillary gas chromatography - mass spectrometry. The merits of dynamic headspace sampling in comparison to static headspace, the predominantly used headspace sampling method, are also discussed. To illustrate the technique, analyses of volatile compounds in three different carbohydrate polymers, commonly used as pharmaceutical excipients, are carried out.