Advertisement

percent impurity calculation (HPLC)

Discussions about HPLC, CE, TLC, SFC, and other "liquid phase" separation techniques.

10 posts Page 1 of 1
Just wondering, what is the difference of calculating percent impurity by basing individual peak area over total peak area and by basing the individual peak area over main peak area?

What is the right way of calculating percent impurity on HPLC instead? Thanks.
The total – of course!

Just do a mental experiment: Your sample is degraded such as a degradation peak of interest has 10,000 AU the main peak has shrunken to 10,000 AU as a result of the degradation.
Now do the math, comparing to the main peak and tell me what you think :D

Best Regrds
Learn Innovate and Share

Dancho Dikov
The total – of course!

Just do a mental experiment: Your sample is degraded such as a degradation peak of interest has 10,000 AU the main peak has shrunken to 10,000 AU as a result of the degradation.
Now do the math, comparing to the main peak and tell me what you think :D

Best Regrds
thanks for the reply,
can you explain it further. Please.
Just divide these 2 areas and multiply by 100.
So you get 100% degradation peak. That isn't right - is it?

Ok?

Best regards
Learn Innovate and Share

Dancho Dikov
Just divide these 2 areas and multiply by 100.
So you get 100% degradation peak. That isn't right - is it?

Ok?

Best regards
Yes for me also I think that is right, but how come other references especially some other Licensor's reference was using peak area of the impurity over peak area of the main peak?
Believe me I've seen many irrationale procedures arround in the course of time.
I can write a book if I compile them one day :wink:

Best regards
Learn Innovate and Share

Dancho Dikov
Believe me I've seen many irrationale procedures arround in the course of time.
I can write a book if I compile them one day :wink:

Best regards

Here is another thing. When You say total peak area, does it include the peak area of your mobile phase, placebo and diluent? Thanks.
Only relevant peaks of course – i.e. the main peak + all other degradation peaks originating from the substance.
You should think of it like this: Percentage of what? My drug substance or everything detectable ;-) And keep in mind that all degradation peaks originate from the substance and for that reason should be included. Mobile phase, placebo and diluent peaks should be excluded.

Best Regards
Learn Innovate and Share

Dancho Dikov
Only relevant peaks of course – i.e. the main peak + all other degradation peaks originating from the substance.
You should think of it like this: Percentage of what? My drug substance or everything detectable ;-) And keep in mind that all degradation peaks originate from the substance and for that reason should be included. Mobile phase, placebo and diluent peaks should be excluded.

Best Regards

Thanks :)
I think %a/a approach becomes tricky when some of the impurities have significant RRF. I believe the %a/a becomes meaningless and %w/w should be reported. For %a/a, do u correct the impurities in the demominator for RRF and then later correct the numerator for RRF to convert to %w/w for each impurity? I'm assuming the impurities peak areas/RRFs are significant to affect the total area.
10 posts Page 1 of 1

Who is online

In total there are 15 users online :: 1 registered, 0 hidden and 14 guests (based on users active over the past 5 minutes)
Most users ever online was 4374 on Fri Oct 03, 2025 12:41 am

Users browsing this forum: Ahrefs [Bot] and 14 guests

Latest Blog Posts from Separation Science

Separation Science offers free learning from the experts covering methods, applications, webinars, eSeminars, videos, tutorials for users of liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, sample preparation and related analytical techniques.

Subscribe to our eNewsletter with daily, weekly or monthly updates: Food & Beverage, Environmental, (Bio)Pharmaceutical, Bioclinical, Liquid Chromatography, Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry.

Liquid Chromatography

Gas Chromatography

Mass Spectrometry