This article describes a method for the analysis of phthalate content in childcare items and toys using GC/MS
This document details the analysis of phthalate esters in toys and children's products using Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS). It addresses regulatory requirements from the Chinese government (GB/T 22048-2008) and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) regarding six restricted phthalate esters.
The note demonstrates the use of an Agilent 5975C Series GC/MSD with an Agilent J&W DB-5ms Ultra Inert column. It covers experimental conditions for both Chinese and CPSC methods, including calibration solutions, sample preparation for real samples like PVC toys and infant pacifiers, and results discussion.
| Column | Agilent J&W DB-5ms Ultra Inert capillary column, 30 m x 0.25 mm, 0.25 ym |
|---|---|
| Carrier Gas | Helium, constant flow mode, 1.2 mL/min |
| Injection Volume | 1 pL |
| MS Source Temp | 230 °C |
| Transfer Line Temp | 280 °C |
The six regulated phthalate esters are dibutyl phthalate (DBP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), bis(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP), di-n-octyl phthalate (DNOP), di-isononyl phthalate (DINP), and di-isodecyl phthalate (DIDP).
Benzyl benzoate is adopted as the internal standard for the CPSC analytical method.
DINP and DIDP appear as typical finger peaks, and quantitation is performed using area summation integration of extracted ion chromatograms at m/z 293 and m/z 307, respectively.