Determination of the UV filters worldwide authorised in sunscreens by high-performance liquid chromatography. Use of cyclodextrins as mobile phase modifier.

Simultaneous determination of organic UV filters worldwide authorised in sunscreen formulations was performed by HPLC with UV spectrophotometric detection. The filters determined were: benzophenone-4, benzophenone-3, butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, octyl dimethyl PABA, octyl methoxycinnamate, homosalate and octyl salicylate. A C18 stationary phase and an isocratic mobile phase of ethanol-water-acetic acid (70:29.5:0.5) containing 65.4 mM of hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin, were used with a flow-rate of 0.6 ml/min. UV measurements were carried out at 313 nm. The time required for the analysis was 20 min and the limits of detection were between 1.5 and 2.3 mg/l. The procedure proposed provides a green analytical method with a basic instrumental configuration, it is fast and accurate and does not involve highly toxic organic solvents.