Iodoform Reaction-Based Turbidimetry for Analysis of Alcohols in Hand Sanitizers

This work presents the first development of an analytical turbidimetric method for the determination of legal alcohols in alcohol-based hand sanitizer products. A typical iodoform reaction is exploited to form a yellow product in the form of precipitates. An iodoform test shows a positive result as...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Chirapha Prakobdi, Phoonthawee Saetear
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-06-01
Series:Analytica
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4532/4/2/19
_version_ 1797596457032744960
author Chirapha Prakobdi
Phoonthawee Saetear
author_facet Chirapha Prakobdi
Phoonthawee Saetear
author_sort Chirapha Prakobdi
collection DOAJ
description This work presents the first development of an analytical turbidimetric method for the determination of legal alcohols in alcohol-based hand sanitizer products. A typical iodoform reaction is exploited to form a yellow product in the form of precipitates. An iodoform test shows a positive result as yellow precipitates in the presence of ethanol and isopropanol; therefore, the test can only be used to distinguish between methanol and those legal alcohols. In the presence of molecular iodine (I<sub>2</sub>) and a strong alkaline solution, the legal alcohol is converted to the corresponding carbonyl compound (i.e., ethanol to acetaldehyde, isopropanol to acetone). The susceptibility of this intermediate towards the reaction with hydroxide ions (strong alkaline condition) results in formations of yellow precipitation of iodoform (CHI<sub>3</sub>) and a water-soluble carboxylate salt in the solution. Therefore, this change allows for the detection of legal alcohols through either naked-eye observation (as semi-quantitative analysis) or a common benchtop/portable photometer/spectrophotometer (as quantitative analysis) by means of turbidimetric analysis. In this work, turbidimetry is employed, which is a useful alternative detection method in analytical practice, especially with colored samples in hand sanitizing products. This is because they can employ wavelengths at which the colored solution does not absorb light. As a result of our developed method, the calibration plots are in the range of 30 to 100% (<i>v</i>/<i>v</i>) for both ethanol and isopropanol. The limit of detection (LOD) (3SD of <i>y</i>-intercept/slope) was found to be 7.4% (<i>v</i>/<i>v</i>) ethanol and 6.5% (<i>v</i>/<i>v</i>) isopropanol. Direct analysis of the non-pretreatment of the sample is achieved. The results indicate that our new proposed analytical method is fit for purpose and valid to detect the legal alcohols in alcohol-based hand sanitizing products for both international and Thai regulations (at least 70% (<i>v</i>/<i>v</i>)). Our quantitative results were also comparable to a standard analytical method, such as the use of a gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID). Our developed method and analytical operation could potentially be developed into a practically portable analysis.
first_indexed 2024-03-11T02:51:43Z
format Article
id doaj.art-659ebfe58bd4435384cdd0a20bdf4439
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2673-4532
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-11T02:51:43Z
publishDate 2023-06-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Analytica
spelling doaj.art-659ebfe58bd4435384cdd0a20bdf44392023-11-18T08:57:21ZengMDPI AGAnalytica2673-45322023-06-014223924910.3390/analytica4020019Iodoform Reaction-Based Turbidimetry for Analysis of Alcohols in Hand SanitizersChirapha Prakobdi0Phoonthawee Saetear1Flow Innovation-Research for Science and Technology Laboratories (Firstlabs), Mahidol University, Rama 6 Road, Bangkok 10400, ThailandFlow Innovation-Research for Science and Technology Laboratories (Firstlabs), Mahidol University, Rama 6 Road, Bangkok 10400, ThailandThis work presents the first development of an analytical turbidimetric method for the determination of legal alcohols in alcohol-based hand sanitizer products. A typical iodoform reaction is exploited to form a yellow product in the form of precipitates. An iodoform test shows a positive result as yellow precipitates in the presence of ethanol and isopropanol; therefore, the test can only be used to distinguish between methanol and those legal alcohols. In the presence of molecular iodine (I<sub>2</sub>) and a strong alkaline solution, the legal alcohol is converted to the corresponding carbonyl compound (i.e., ethanol to acetaldehyde, isopropanol to acetone). The susceptibility of this intermediate towards the reaction with hydroxide ions (strong alkaline condition) results in formations of yellow precipitation of iodoform (CHI<sub>3</sub>) and a water-soluble carboxylate salt in the solution. Therefore, this change allows for the detection of legal alcohols through either naked-eye observation (as semi-quantitative analysis) or a common benchtop/portable photometer/spectrophotometer (as quantitative analysis) by means of turbidimetric analysis. In this work, turbidimetry is employed, which is a useful alternative detection method in analytical practice, especially with colored samples in hand sanitizing products. This is because they can employ wavelengths at which the colored solution does not absorb light. As a result of our developed method, the calibration plots are in the range of 30 to 100% (<i>v</i>/<i>v</i>) for both ethanol and isopropanol. The limit of detection (LOD) (3SD of <i>y</i>-intercept/slope) was found to be 7.4% (<i>v</i>/<i>v</i>) ethanol and 6.5% (<i>v</i>/<i>v</i>) isopropanol. Direct analysis of the non-pretreatment of the sample is achieved. The results indicate that our new proposed analytical method is fit for purpose and valid to detect the legal alcohols in alcohol-based hand sanitizing products for both international and Thai regulations (at least 70% (<i>v</i>/<i>v</i>)). Our quantitative results were also comparable to a standard analytical method, such as the use of a gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID). Our developed method and analytical operation could potentially be developed into a practically portable analysis.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4532/4/2/19ethanolisopropanoliodoformturbidimetrylegal alcohol
spellingShingle Chirapha Prakobdi
Phoonthawee Saetear
Iodoform Reaction-Based Turbidimetry for Analysis of Alcohols in Hand Sanitizers
Analytica
ethanol
isopropanol
iodoform
turbidimetry
legal alcohol
title Iodoform Reaction-Based Turbidimetry for Analysis of Alcohols in Hand Sanitizers
title_full Iodoform Reaction-Based Turbidimetry for Analysis of Alcohols in Hand Sanitizers
title_fullStr Iodoform Reaction-Based Turbidimetry for Analysis of Alcohols in Hand Sanitizers
title_full_unstemmed Iodoform Reaction-Based Turbidimetry for Analysis of Alcohols in Hand Sanitizers
title_short Iodoform Reaction-Based Turbidimetry for Analysis of Alcohols in Hand Sanitizers
title_sort iodoform reaction based turbidimetry for analysis of alcohols in hand sanitizers
topic ethanol
isopropanol
iodoform
turbidimetry
legal alcohol
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4532/4/2/19
work_keys_str_mv AT chiraphaprakobdi iodoformreactionbasedturbidimetryforanalysisofalcoholsinhandsanitizers
AT phoonthaweesaetear iodoformreactionbasedturbidimetryforanalysisofalcoholsinhandsanitizers