Comparison of Chromatographic and Electrochemical Methods for Detecting and Quantifying Sunscreen Agents and Their Degradation Products in Water Matrices

Comparing electroanalysis and chromatography, this study highlights that electroanalysis, specifically using a glassy carbon sensor (GCS), is the most appropriate choice for quantifying recalcitrant organic compounds. Octocrylene (OC), an organic compound commonly found in sunscreens, is of particul...

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Main Authors: Laysa Renata Duarte Brito Sabino, Mayra Kerolly Sales Monteiro, Letícia Gracyelle Alexandre Costa, Elisama Vieira dos Santos, Carlos Alberto Martínez-Huitle, Sergio Ferro
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Applied Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/10/5504
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author Laysa Renata Duarte Brito Sabino
Mayra Kerolly Sales Monteiro
Letícia Gracyelle Alexandre Costa
Elisama Vieira dos Santos
Carlos Alberto Martínez-Huitle
Sergio Ferro
author_facet Laysa Renata Duarte Brito Sabino
Mayra Kerolly Sales Monteiro
Letícia Gracyelle Alexandre Costa
Elisama Vieira dos Santos
Carlos Alberto Martínez-Huitle
Sergio Ferro
author_sort Laysa Renata Duarte Brito Sabino
collection DOAJ
description Comparing electroanalysis and chromatography, this study highlights that electroanalysis, specifically using a glassy carbon sensor (GCS), is the most appropriate choice for quantifying recalcitrant organic compounds. Octocrylene (OC), an organic compound commonly found in sunscreens, is of particular concern in swimming pool water monitoring, as its presence above legal limits poses health risks. OC quantification was performed using both high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and electroanalysis in sunscreen formulations and water matrices. The limits of detection (LODs) and quantification (LOQ) for OC were approximately 0.11 ± 0.01 mg L<sup>−1</sup> and 0.86 ± 0.04 mg L<sup>−1</sup> by electroanalysis, and 0.35 ± 0.02 mg L<sup>−1</sup> and 2.86 ± 0.12 mg L<sup>−1</sup> by HPLC. Electroanalysis successfully quantified OC in real sunscreen samples, and the results were comparable to those obtained by HPLC. The matrices tested—swimming pool water and distilled water (containing 0.002 M Cl<sup>−</sup>) contaminated with 0.4 ± 0.2 g L<sup>−1</sup> of sunscreen (based on a maximum concentration in sunscreen and cosmetic formulations of 10%)—showed OC concentrations below 10% in the formulation, with no significant differences observed between the two techniques. GCS was further utilized to monitor OC degradation via anodic oxidation at current densities of 5 and 10 mA cm<sup>−2</sup>, using a boron-doped diamond (BDD) anode. The combined approach demonstrated high efficacy in both detecting and eliminating OC from various water matrices, making it a reliable and efficient alternative for environmental and water quality monitoring.
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spelling doaj-art-db19940538e7481ea9ad58ef7741b0172025-08-20T03:14:32ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-05-011510550410.3390/app15105504Comparison of Chromatographic and Electrochemical Methods for Detecting and Quantifying Sunscreen Agents and Their Degradation Products in Water MatricesLaysa Renata Duarte Brito Sabino0Mayra Kerolly Sales Monteiro1Letícia Gracyelle Alexandre Costa2Elisama Vieira dos Santos3Carlos Alberto Martínez-Huitle4Sergio Ferro5Renewable Energies and Environmental Sustainability Research Group, Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Campus Universitário, Av. Salgado Filho 3000, Lagoa Nova, Natal 59078-970, BrazilRenewable Energies and Environmental Sustainability Research Group, Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Campus Universitário, Av. Salgado Filho 3000, Lagoa Nova, Natal 59078-970, BrazilRenewable Energies and Environmental Sustainability Research Group, Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Campus Universitário, Av. Salgado Filho 3000, Lagoa Nova, Natal 59078-970, BrazilRenewable Energies and Environmental Sustainability Research Group, Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Campus Universitário, Av. Salgado Filho 3000, Lagoa Nova, Natal 59078-970, BrazilRenewable Energies and Environmental Sustainability Research Group, Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Campus Universitário, Av. Salgado Filho 3000, Lagoa Nova, Natal 59078-970, BrazilEcas4 Australia Pty, Ltd., Mile End South, SA 5031, AustraliaComparing electroanalysis and chromatography, this study highlights that electroanalysis, specifically using a glassy carbon sensor (GCS), is the most appropriate choice for quantifying recalcitrant organic compounds. Octocrylene (OC), an organic compound commonly found in sunscreens, is of particular concern in swimming pool water monitoring, as its presence above legal limits poses health risks. OC quantification was performed using both high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and electroanalysis in sunscreen formulations and water matrices. The limits of detection (LODs) and quantification (LOQ) for OC were approximately 0.11 ± 0.01 mg L<sup>−1</sup> and 0.86 ± 0.04 mg L<sup>−1</sup> by electroanalysis, and 0.35 ± 0.02 mg L<sup>−1</sup> and 2.86 ± 0.12 mg L<sup>−1</sup> by HPLC. Electroanalysis successfully quantified OC in real sunscreen samples, and the results were comparable to those obtained by HPLC. The matrices tested—swimming pool water and distilled water (containing 0.002 M Cl<sup>−</sup>) contaminated with 0.4 ± 0.2 g L<sup>−1</sup> of sunscreen (based on a maximum concentration in sunscreen and cosmetic formulations of 10%)—showed OC concentrations below 10% in the formulation, with no significant differences observed between the two techniques. GCS was further utilized to monitor OC degradation via anodic oxidation at current densities of 5 and 10 mA cm<sup>−2</sup>, using a boron-doped diamond (BDD) anode. The combined approach demonstrated high efficacy in both detecting and eliminating OC from various water matrices, making it a reliable and efficient alternative for environmental and water quality monitoring.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/10/5504octocryleneelectroanalysisglassy carbonboron-doped diamondsunscreensHPLC
spellingShingle Laysa Renata Duarte Brito Sabino
Mayra Kerolly Sales Monteiro
Letícia Gracyelle Alexandre Costa
Elisama Vieira dos Santos
Carlos Alberto Martínez-Huitle
Sergio Ferro
Comparison of Chromatographic and Electrochemical Methods for Detecting and Quantifying Sunscreen Agents and Their Degradation Products in Water Matrices
Applied Sciences
octocrylene
electroanalysis
glassy carbon
boron-doped diamond
sunscreens
HPLC
title Comparison of Chromatographic and Electrochemical Methods for Detecting and Quantifying Sunscreen Agents and Their Degradation Products in Water Matrices
title_full Comparison of Chromatographic and Electrochemical Methods for Detecting and Quantifying Sunscreen Agents and Their Degradation Products in Water Matrices
title_fullStr Comparison of Chromatographic and Electrochemical Methods for Detecting and Quantifying Sunscreen Agents and Their Degradation Products in Water Matrices
title_full_unstemmed Comparison of Chromatographic and Electrochemical Methods for Detecting and Quantifying Sunscreen Agents and Their Degradation Products in Water Matrices
title_short Comparison of Chromatographic and Electrochemical Methods for Detecting and Quantifying Sunscreen Agents and Their Degradation Products in Water Matrices
title_sort comparison of chromatographic and electrochemical methods for detecting and quantifying sunscreen agents and their degradation products in water matrices
topic octocrylene
electroanalysis
glassy carbon
boron-doped diamond
sunscreens
HPLC
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/10/5504
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