A paper platform for colorimetric determination of aluminum hydrochloride in antiperspirant samples

Abstract

A simple, fast, low-cost, portable, and eco-friendly method using a spot test on a paper platform, together with diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, was developed and validated for the quantification of aluminum hydrochloride, a potential neurotoxic agent, in antiperspirant samples. The determination of aluminum hydrochloride was performed at a wavelength of 615 nm, by measuring consumption of the purple colorimetric reagent Alizarin S, due to reaction with aluminum. The linear range was from 10.0 to 125.0 mg L−1 and could be described by the equation: AR = 0.4479 − 0.002543 CAl (R = 0.999). The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were 3.06 and 10.2 mg L−1, respectively. The method was specific, accurate, and repeatable, with relative standard deviation (RSD) <5.0%. The recovery was between 92.2 and 103.4%. The method was successfully used for the determination of aluminum hydrochloride in commercial antiperspirant samples, revealing concentrations below the maximum permitted by current legislation.