ANALYSIS OF SOME METABOLITES OF ORGANIC-SOLVENTS IN URINE BY HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY WITH BETA-CYCLODEXTRIN

Chromatographic separation of the metabolites derived from toluene, et hylbenzene, styrene and xylene was carried out on untreated urine samp les from factory workers. The elution sequence was as follows: phenylg lyoxilic acid, 3-hydroxy-2-butanone, hippuric acid, o-methylhippuric a cid, p-methylhippuric acid, m-methylhippuric acid, p-cresol, m-cresol and o-cresol. The stability constants (K-G) of cresol and methylhippur ic acid derivatives were evaluated. The capacity factor (k'), selectiv ity factor (alpha) and resolution (R-s) are described with a variety o f mobile phases containing beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD). The optimum co ncentration ratio of ethanol-water-acetic acid-beta-CD was determined to be 20:80:0.3:1.4%. Under these conditions, k' values of the five me tabolites were 2<k'<6, and all alpha values were greater than 1.5. Sim ultaneous determinations of the metabolites were carried out in real u rine samples from factory workers using the standard addition method. Validation of the method and the detection limit are described under t he optimum conditions attained in this experiment. (C) 1997 Elsevier S cience B.V.