Abstract

Dr. Rafael N. Infante*, Andrea Rodríguez and Mariangely Vélez

ABSTRACT

Demand for hand sanitizer is surging around the globe as the new coronavirus (convid-19) spreads. Sales of hand sanitizers and similar products have swelled across several international markets since the COVID-19 outbreak began in January. The virus, which originated in China, has now spread to more than 190 countries. As of March, 2020 over 400,000 confirmed cases and more that 20,000 deaths worldwide. Alcohol based hand sanitizer companies are struggling to supply the world demand while assuring the public that the product meet requirements set by regulatory agencies and the World Health Organization regarding the content of active ingredients. The most common alcohols used in hand sanitizers are methanol, ethanol, iso-propyl alcohol, and n-propanol or a mixture of thereof. The firms must use the most accurate method of analysis available for verification of the alcohol content in samples of the finished product before each batch is released for distribution. Discussed here is rapid method to analyze for alcohols in finished hand sanitizer products using gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID). The method is aimed at assuring that the product complies with the alcohol % specification in the product label.