Application of Graphene as Solid Phase Extraction Absorbent for the Determination of Parabens in Cosmetic Products by Capillary Electrophoresis

Abstract

A graphene-based solid phase extraction (SPE) technique was developed for the extraction of parabens (methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben) in cosmetic samples, followed by determination by capillary electrophoresis (CE). The SPE extraction parameters such as eluent reagent and eluent volume, washing solution, sample pH, and flow-rate of sample loading, were investigated for satisfied recoveries. The running buffer, consisting of 25 mM borate solution (pH 10.0), was used for the separation of four parabens with the CE method within 10 min. The limits of detection were 0.14 mg/L, 0.13 mg/L, 0.15 mg/L, and 0.10 mg/L for methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben, respectively, and the mean recoveries obtained were between 62.6% and 100.4%. The developed method was used for the determination of parabens in real cosmetic products.

Keywords:

• Capillary electrophoresis
• Cosmetics
• Graphene
• Paraben
• Solid phase extraction

Acknowledgments

The work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21005050), the Beijing Natural Science Foundation (2133061), the Scientific Research Common Program of Beijing Municipal Commission of Education (KM201010028009), and Funding Project for Academic Human Resources Development in Institutions of Higher Learning under the Jurisdiction of Beijing Municipality (PHR20100718 and PHR201108147).

Notes

^a N.D., not detected.