Abstract
A method for the quantitative determination of estradiol benzoate (EB) in cosmetics by highperformance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was developed. The EB was extracted from samples with methylene chloride, the extract was evaporated, and the residue was subjected to silica gel column chromatography. The column was washed with benzene to remove impurities, and EB was eluted with ethanol-benzene (1 : 9, v/v) and determined by HPLC on an octadecylsilylated silica column using a mobile phase of acetonitrile-water, with UV detection (230 nm). Recoveries of EB obtained from a variety of cosmetic samples spiked at 0.001 and 0.002% levels were 91.8-99.8%, and the coefficients of variation were between 0.41-2.5%. When this method was applied to the analysis of EB in commercial samples, EB could be determined without interference.
