Ion-exclusion chromatography with UV detection for the determination of alkanolamines in cosmetics using water-glycerine as an eluent

Ion-exclusion chromatography of alkanolamines was investigated on a PS/DVB based strongly basic anion-exchange resin column (9 × 300 mm) in the OH-form using UV detection at 200 nm. When using water as an eluent, although monoethanolamine (MEA), diethanolamine (DEA) and triethanolamine (TEA) were separated depending on their pkb, and the peak shape of these amines showed tailing, depending on to their hydrophobicities. The calibration curves were also non-linear. When using a 2% glycerine eluent, the tailing was decreased by the effect of OH-group in glycerine, and the high resolution chromatogram for these amines was obtained. Accordingly, linear calibration graphs were obtained for all alkanolamines. The present method was applied successfully to the determination of TEA in cream and shampoo.