DEVELOPMENT OF LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY-MASS SPECTROMETRIC
PROCEDURES FOR THE ANALYSIS OF POLY(ETHYLENE GLYCOL) IN
VARIOUS MATRICES
American Chemical Society 2004 Fall Scientific Meeting, Midland Local Section
Midland, MI
J.T. Roy
John T. Roy, Impact Analytical, 1910 W. St. Andrews Rd., Midland, MI 48640.
Procedures for the analysis of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) have been developed that
utilizes liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) with electrospray ionization
and an ion trap mass spectrometer. These procedures have been used to detect this
compound in several different matrices. This technique can be used for the direct
analysis of PEG with different molecular weights that otherwise may be difficult to
characterize by other procedures. Analysis of PEG by LC-MS has been used to support
good laboratory studies that have required characterization. The LC-MS technique has
also been used to monitor PEG in other matrices, such as ethoxylated alcohols and in
sodium bicarbonate buffering media that is used for the culture of human normal and
neoplastic leukocytes. Analyses of ethoxylated alcohols by LC-MS have led to better
understanding performance issues that are related to the product. The LC-MS procedures
have proven to be an excellent qualitative tool for the analysis of PEG. These LC-MS
procedures provide spectral identification and molecular weight information that were
previously difficult to obtain for PEG via other analytical techniques. Additional work
has been initiated to develop a quantitative analysis for PEG by LC-MS. The evaluation
of other ionization sources besides electrospray ionization is included in this work.