Determination of 15 volatile organic compound residues in cosmetics by headspace gas chromatography

A headspace gas chromatography (HS-GC) method was developed for the rapid determination of multi-mixture of 15 residual volatile organic compounds in cosmetics. The experimental conditions of HS-GC such as headspace temperature, headspace time and the analytical conditions of GC were optimized. Cosmetic samples were extracted and cleaned-up by head-space at 60 degrees C for 30 min, determined by GC-flame ionization detector (FID) and quantified by external standard method. The 15 poisonous volatile organic compounds were separated efficiently from impurities with high sensitivity and reproducibility. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) were less than 5%, the recoveries were from 62. 8% - 116%, the linear range was 0. 002 -2.0 mg/L with a good linear correlation coefficient, (r > 0. 999) and the limits of detection were 0. 09 -0. 68 mg/kg. By means of the above developed HS-GC method, 15 residual volatile organic compounds in cosmetics were detected accurately and simultaneously in a single sample injection. The method is accurate, simple, rapid, and is suitable for the trace analysis of multi-mixture of residual volatile organic compounds in various cosmetics.