title: Determination of benzalkonium chloride in contact lens solutions by positive-ion fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry.
abstract: Under positive-ion fast atom bombardment (FAB) mass spectrometric conditions, benzalkonium chloride (BAK) afforded intense peaks at m/z 304 and 332, corresponding to the intact cations [M--Cl]+ of C12 and C14 homologues, respectively. The use of benzethonium chloride as an internal standard and thioglycerol as a FAB matrix allowed the direct and specific determination of the BAK content (0.004-0.020%) in commercial hard contact lens solutions through the individual assay of the two alkyl homologues. A linear relationship between the homologue concentration and the peak-area ratio was observed over the concentration range 3-180 micrograms ml-1.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università di Firenze, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pinzauti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bambagiotti-Alberti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Moneti
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: La Porta
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Coran
authors.forename: F F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Vincieri
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gratteri
mesh_terms: D001548:Benzalkonium Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D003261:Contact Lenses; D007558:Italy; D012996:Solutions; D016339:Spectrometry, Mass, Fast Atom Bombardment
chemical_list: D001548:Benzalkonium Compounds; D012996:Solutions