Quantitative Determination of Ethanol in Pharmaceutical Products by Gas Chromatography * *Received August 21, 1959, from the Analytical Control Research and Development Departments. Eli Lilly and Co., Indianapolis, Ind

The presently used U. S. P. XV method for ethanol is compared with the gas chromatography method. Advantages and disadvantages of both methods are discussed. Typical results obtained by both procedures when applied to tinctures, fluidextracts, elixirs, and other products are compared. The results obtained from three gas chromatographs each having a different type thermal conductivity detector are presented. Three types of sample injectors are compared and five different stationary phases are examined.