Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology, 2010, 1, 367-371 ABB
doi:10.4236/abb.2010.15049 Published Online December 2010 (http://www.SciRP.org/journal/abb/).
Published Online December 2010 in SciRes. http://www.scirp.org/journal/ABB
Quantitative determination of residual 2-(2-chloroethoxy)
ethanol (CEE) in quetiapine fumarate by gas chr omatogaraphy
Pravish Tiwari, Ravi Yadav, Padmakar Sathe, Deepali Gangrade
Department of chemistry, Ramnarain Ruia College, Matunga, Mumbai, India.
Received 6 July 2010; revised 19 July 2010; accepted 26 July 2010.
ABSTRACT
A simple and specific gas chromatographic method
developed and validated for the determination of
2-(2-chloroethoxy) ethanol in Quetiapine Fumarate.
The method is carried out with a flame ionization
detector and DB-FFAP capillary column. The linear-
ity was established over a range of 40-150 µg ml-1 and
correlation coefficient is more than 0.999.
Keywords: GC; 2-(2-Chloroethoxy) Ethanol
1. INTRODUCTION
Quetiapine is an antipsychotic drug belonging to the
group of the dibenzothiazepines and used for the treat-
ment of schizophrenia and other psychotic syndromes
[1,2]. Quetiapine is used in a form of tablets containing
50, 100, 200 and 300 mg of the active substance.The
starting material which is used in the synthesis of
Quetiapine fumarate is 2-(2-chloroethoxy) ethanol.
2-(2-chloroethoxy)-ethanol: CEE, structural formula
C4H9ClO2; CAS number 628-89-7, boiling point 200℃
at 101.3 kPa. The starting material are often not totally
removed by practical manufacturing techniques, and
consequently low levels are present in most pharmaceu-
ticals. An acceptable level of CEE is unclassified but it is
known impurity so was specified with acceptance crite-
rion of 0.01% [3]. {Based on NOEL and PDE Value of
CEE and Quetiapine}The European Pharmacopoeia (Eur.
Ph.) included this guideline in the chapter Residual Sol-
vents [4,5] and described a general procedure for identi-
fication and control of residual solvents in drug sub-
stances. Some problems have been overcome, for in-
stance quantitative determination of non-volatile sol-
vents such as 2-(2-chloroethoxy)-ethanol (CEE). In the
literature there is no information about the methods for
determination of CEE in the Quetiapine. In the present
study, a gas chromatographic method with direct injec-
tion for the determination of CEE in the activ e substance
has been develope d.
The separation was obtained on a DB-FFAP column
(30 m × 0.32 mm i.d. × 1.0 µm coating thickness).
2. EXPERIMENTAL
The active substance was synthesized by P recise
pharmaceutical Ltd (Pharmaceutical Research Centre,
Mumbai, India). Acetonitrile was purchased by J.T baker
(USA), Hydrochloride was purchased by S.D. Fine chem.
(India), Water was purchased by Lab chem. (India), and
2-(2-chloroethoxy) ethanol was purchased by Sigma
Aldrich, (Germany).
2.1. Preparation of Solution
Quantitative standard solution of CEE Standard solu-
tions was prepared from standard stock solutions. Stan-
dard stock solutions were prepared in Diluent {0.2N
Hydrochloride in Aceton itrile: Water (70:30 v/v)}. Stan-
dard stock solution A: containing 1mg ml-1 of CEE;
Standard solution: containing 0.01mg ml-1 of CEE which
corresponds to 0.1mg ml-1 of CEE in the tested sub-
stance. Qualitative standard solution of CEE for system
suitability: Selectivity solution was prepared to check
Eur. Ph. system suitability requirements. A total of 7
solvents were included in this standard solution. Selec-
tivity solution contained 300 ppm of methanol, 500ppm
of Ethanol, 500ppm of Acetone, 500 ppm of Isopropyl
alcohol, 89 ppm of Toluene, 88 ppm of N, N-dimethyl
formamide, 60 ppm of Dichloromethane and 10 ppm of
CEE [6]. Test solution was prepared solution 1 contain-
ing 100mg ml-1. A b lank was prep ared using the dilu ent,
but without sample or standard solution.
2.2. Instrumentation and Operating
Condition
The experiments were performed on an Agilent 7890A
gas chromatograph (GC) equipped with a CTC combipal
autosampler and a flame ionization detect or. A DB -FFAP
column (phase composition: Nitroterepthalic acid modi-

P. Tiwari et al. / Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology 1 (2010) 367-371 368
fied polyethylene Glycol) film thickness 1.0 µm, 30 m
long, 0.32 mm ID was used. GC conditions: Inlet heater
200℃, detector 280℃, Oven initial temperature 100℃
for 5 minutes, then raised at a rate of 15℃/min to 180℃
and hold for 2 minutes, th en raised at a rate of 35℃/min
to 230℃ and hold for 2 minutes. Helium gas was used as
a carrier gas at 3.0ml min-1 and a split flow of 1:1. FID
air flow was 400 ml min-1 and FID hydrogen flow was
40 ml min-1. 1 µl was injected.
2.3. Procedure
Separately inject 1 µl of standard solution and test solu-
tion into gas chro matograph . Record chromatograms and
compare peak areas of analytes from the test and stan-
dard solution. Under described conditions the retention
time of CEE is 10.7 minutes. The area of the peak of
CEE in the chromatogram from the test solution must
not be greater than the mean area of the peak from the
standard solution (0.1 mg ml-1 corresponds to the sub-
stance).
3. RESULTS
3.1. System Suitability Test (SST)
The selectivity of the method was evaluated b y injecting
the selectivity solution to ensure the separation of all
Figure 1. Standard chromatogram of CEE.
Figure 2. Limit of Detection of CEE.

P. Tiwari et al. / Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology 1 (2010) 367-371 369
analytes. The selectivity solution contained: Methanol,
Ethanol, Acetone, Dichloromethane, toluene, Isopropyl
alcohol, N, N-Dimethyl formamide, CEE. Resolution
was calculated directly by the software: Chemstation
solution ver. Rev.13.03.02 [341]. Chromatogram of se-
lectivity solution is shown in Figure 1; the results are
presented in Figure 1 (inset).Good separation was ob-
tained between CEE and other solvents used in the syn-
thetic route of the active substance. For the drug sub-
stance excellent recoveries of 92-95% were obtained at
0.1 mg ml-1 corresponds to the substance.
3.2. Validation of Method for CEE in API
Full validation data was required for API as it was in last
stage development.
3.3. Limit of detection and limit of
Quantification for CEE
The LOD and LOQ were calculated form S/N data gen-
erated from six injection of CEE (with API) containing
Figure 3. Limit of Quantification of CEE.
Figure 4. Accuracy at Limit of quantification level.

P. Tiwari et al. / Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology 1 (2010) 367-371 370
0.1 mg ml-1 with respect to an API sample concentration
100mg ml-1. A LOQ of 0.04mg ml-1 is typical for the
CEE with a LOD approximately three times less than
LOQ. LOD and LOQ chromatograms are shown in the
Figures 2 & 3.
3.4. Recovery of CEE in API
The accuracy of the method was evaluated in triplicate at
LOQ level in bulk drug sample. The percentage recov-
eries were calculated. A satisfactory recovery value of
CEE (90-92%) was obtained. At such low levels these
recoveries and %RSD were satisfactory. Accuracy at LOQ
and STD chromatogram was shown in Figures 4 &
5.
3.5. Linearity of the CEE on Gas
Chromatography
The linearity of CEE was satisfactorily demonstrated
with six point calibration graph between LOQ to 150%
of analyte concentrations (LOQ, 50, 75,100,125 & 150).
The peak area versus concentration data was performed
by least-squares linear regression analysis. The calibra-
tion curve was produced by plotting the average of trip-
licate CEE injections against the concentration expressed
in percentage. Correlatio n coefficient for CEE was 0.99.
Linearity of the CEE chromatogram was shown in the
Figure 5. Accuracy at Standard level.
Figure 6. Linearity at standard level CEE.

P. Tiwari et al. / Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology 1 (2010) 367-371 371
Figure 6.
4. DISCUSSION AND CONCL USION
In this study, a GC analytical method was developed for
control of residual 2-(2-chloroethoxy)ethanol (CEE) in
the active substance. Sample solvent diluent was se-
lected to obtain good selectivity and sensitivity for CEE.
The sample dilution factor was adapted to detect unclas-
sified solvent CEE at known impurity levels (100 ppm)
by FID. This GC method is suitable for its intended
purpose.
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