Appendix VIII F. Determination of Ethanol

Use Method I or, where appropriate, Method II unless otherwise prescribed in the monograph.

Carry out the method for gas chromatography, Appendix III B, using the following solutions. Solution (1) contains 5.0% v/v of absolute ethanol and 5.0% v/v of propan-1-ol (internal standard). For solution (2) dilute a volume of the preparation being examined with water to contain between 4.0 and 6.0% v/v of ethanol. Prepare solution (3) in the same manner as solution (2) but adding sufficient of the internal standard to produce a final concentration of 5.0% v/v.

The chromatographic procedure may be carried out using a column (1.5 m × 4 mm) packed with porous polymer beads (100 to 120 mesh) (Porapak Q and Chromosorb 101 are suitable) and maintained at 150° with both the inlet port and the detector at 170°.

Calculate the percentage content of ethanol from the areas of the peaks due to ethanol in the chromatograms obtained with solutions (1) and (3).

For preparations in which, in accordance with the authority given in the monographs, Industrial Methylated Spirit has been used, determine the content of ethanol as described in Method I but using as solution (2) a volume of the preparation being examined diluted with water to contain between 4.0 and 6.0% v/v of total ethanol and methanol.

Determine the concentration of methanol in the following manner. Carry out the chromatographic procedure described under Method I but using the following solutions. Solution (1) contains 0.25% v/v of methanol and 0.25% v/v of propan-1-ol (internal standard). For solution (2) dilute a volume of the preparation being examined with water to contain between 0.2% and 0.3% v/v of methanol. Prepare solution (3) in the same manner as solution (2) but adding sufficient of the internal standard to produce a final concentration of 0.25% v/v.

The sum of the contents of ethanol and methanol is within the range specified in the monograph and the ratio of the content of methanol to that of ethanol is commensurate with Industrial Methylated Spirit having been used.

This method is intended only for the examination of liquid pharmaceutical preparations containing ethanol. These preparations also contain dissolved substances which must be separated from the ethanol to be determined by distillation. When distillation would distil volatile substances other than ethanol and water the appropriate precautions are stated in the monograph.

The ethanol content of a liquid is expressed as the number of volumes of ethanol contained in 100 volumes of the liquid, the volumes being measured at 20 ± 0.1 °C. This is known as the "percentage of ethanol by volume" (per cent V/V). The content may also be expressed in grams of ethanol per 100 g of the liquid. This is known as the "percentage of ethanol by mass" (per cent m/m).

The relation between the density at 20 ± 0.1 °C, the relative density (corrected to vacuum) and the ethanol content of a mixture of water and ethanol is given in the tables of the International Organisation for Legal Metrology (1972), International Recommendation No. 22.

Apparatus The apparatus (see Figure 2.9.10.-1) consists of a round-bottomed flask (A) fitted with a distillation head (B) with a steam trap and attached to a vertical condenser (C). The latter is fitted at its lower part with a tube (D) which carries the distillate into the lower part of a 100 mL or 250 mL volumetric flask. The volumetric flask is immersed in a mixture of ice and water (E) during the distillation. A disc having a circular aperture 6 cm in diameter is placed under flask (A) to reduce the risk of charring of any dissolved substances.

Pycnometer method Transfer 25.0 mL of the preparation to be examined, measured at 20 ± 0.1 °C, to the distillation flask. Dilute with 100 mL to 150 mL of distilled water R and add a few pieces of pumice. Attach the distillation head and condenser. Distil and collect not less than 90 mL of distillate in a 100 mL volumetric flask. Adjust the temperature to 20 ± 0.1 °C and dilute to 100.0 mL with distilled water R at 20 ± 0.1 °C. Determine the relative density at 20 ± 0.1 °C using a pycnometer

The values indicated in Table 2.9.10.-1, column 3, are multiplied by four to obtain the percentage of ethanol by volume (V/V) contained in the preparation. After calculation of the ethanol content using the Table, round off the result to one decimal place.

Hydrometer method Transfer 50.0 mL of the preparation to be examined, measured at 20 ± 0.1 °C, to the distillation flask, add 200 mL to 300 mL of distilled water R and distil, as described above, into a volumetric flask until at least 180 mL has been collected. Adjust the temperature to 20 ± 0.1 °C and dilute to 250.0 mL with distilled water R at 20 ± 0.1 °C.

Transfer the distillate to a cylinder whose diameter is at least 6 mm wider than the bulb of the hydrometer. If the volume is insufficient, double the quantity of the sample and dilute the distillate to 500.0 mL with distilled water R at 20 ± 0.1 °C.

Multiply the strength by five to allow for the dilution during the determination. After calculation of the ethanol content using the Table 2.9.10.-1 round off the result to one decimal place.