Selective Method Based on Electrochemical Detection Coupled HPLC for Determination of the Allergens Atranol and Chloroatranol

The electrochemical properties of atranol and chloroatranol have been evaluated in order to use dual detection to develop a simple reverse‐phase high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the determination of these allergens in cosmetic products. For this purpose, a diode‐array detector (DAD) and an electrochemical detector (ECD) operated in amperometric mode and equipped with a wall‐jet cell and a glassy carbon electrode as working electrode have been used. The chromatographic conditions have been optimized and the hydrodynamic curves for both compounds have been obtained. An optimal separation with adequate electrochemical responses have been obtained using a 50 : 50 methanol : 0.2 % phosphoric acid solution as mobile phase. The ECD detection has been performed by applying a potential of 1.15 V vs. Ag/AgCl. Limits of detection of 10 μ L−1 for atranol and 29 μ L−1 for chloroatranol have been achieved using the amperometric detection mode. The proposed methodology has been applied with successful results for the direct determination of both allergens, without pretreatment steps of samples, in different cosmetic products based on hydroalcoholic solutions.