ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: A simple and robust head space/gas chromatography with flame ionisation sensor (HS/GC/FIS) approach for the trace evaluation of carcinogenic impurity, methyl chloride, in trimetazidine dihydrochloride (TRD) drug ingredient and its formulation is described. METHOD: This HS/GC/FIS approach was based on separation and analysis of CH3Cl content on DB-624 [75.0m - length, 0.53mm - internal diameter, 3.0µm - film thickness] column using nitrogen as carrier gas flowing through the column at 3mL/min stream rate. Detection of eluted CH3Cl was accomplished with flame ionization sensor at a set temperature of 260ÌC. RESULTS: The optimised HS/GC/FIS methodological approach was thoroughly validated, demonstrating that it was linear with range of 5.0ppm to 1508.4ppm, sensitive with detection limit of 1.65ppm and quantification limit of 5.01ppm, reproducible with RSD values of 2.10-2.35%, accurate with recoveries of 81.9-99.0%, robust with percent variation of 7.5-12.22% with respect to changes in oven temperature, injector temperature, detector temperature and practical for regular TRD quality control. CONCLUSION: The findings revealed that with this optimised HS/GC/FIS methodological approach, the trace amounts of carcinogenic impurity (methyl chloride) in TRD drug ingredient and formulation could be successfully measured.
