Residual Solvents & Product Contamination

For health and safety concerns and regulatory compliance, residual solvents found in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and other consumer goods must be controlled and identified.  Alliance Technologies has helped a number of clients identify or quantify residual solvents in their products.

• Methyl methacrylate (MMA) has been banned in 39 states for its irritating and sensitizing effects and has been declared a “poisonous and deleterious substance” by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  In the past, methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer was used widely in acrylic nail preparations; however, due to concerns regarding adverse health effects, its use has now largely been replaced by other methacrylate esters, particularly ethyl methacrylate (EMA), which is considered to have lower toxicity than MMA.  Overexposure to methyl methacrylate (MMA) can result in irritation of the skin, eyes, nose, throat, or lungs.  MMA can also affect the nervous system.
• Acetone, a colorless solvent, is frequently used in cosmetics and personal care products and may also be found in nail polish, bath, cleansing, fragrance, hair care and skin care products.   A global cosmetic company submitted powder samples to Alliance Technologies for the quantitative determination of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and acetone. Using gas chromatography (GC-MS and GC-FID), Alliance Technologies was able to determine that these solvents were undetected or at very low levels.
• In a separate study, an overseas laboratory reported benzene in a clients’ cosmetic products. The same products were submitted to Alliance Technologies for confirmatory testing.  Using GC-MS with single-ion monitoring and multiple test conditions, Alliance Technologies was able to confirm that the previous results were false positives and benzene was not detected above 0.25ppm.

With a wide variety of testing equipment, as well as experience in method development and working with complex matrices, Alliance Technologies is capable of tackling challenging analytical tests involving residual solvents or other contaminants. Contact us for a free quote, and get started with your testing today!