How does the one-pot HPLC method enable the simultaneous quantification of hydrogen peroxide and organic peroxides?

Hydrogen peroxide and organic peroxides are widely used in the pharmaceutical and food industries as disinfectants, preservatives, and bleaching agents. They can also form as by-products during various industrial processes, potentially compromising product quality. Current analytical methods typically measure total peroxide content but do not distinguish between hydrogen peroxide and organic peroxides, despite their differing reactivity and implications for product stability.

The one-pot HPLC method developed in this study utilizes borinic acid for the selective reaction with hydrogen peroxide, followed by the reaction of triphenylphosphine with the remaining organic peroxides. The resulting phenol derivative and triphenylphosphine oxide are detected using HPLC with UV detection. This method allows for the simultaneous quantification of both hydrogen peroxide and organic peroxides in a single run, providing a simple, robust, and versatile tool for precise peroxide monitoring in various applications. This novel HPLC method offers a significant improvement over existing methods by enabling the differentiation of peroxide species, which is crucial for guiding excipient selection and supporting antioxidant use in formulation development.