Assay for Bithionol in Liquid Soap
most difficult, if not impossible, to obtain from
Sir:
The method for the assay for bithionol in
liquid soaps as recently described by hlatuszak
and co-workers (1) will undoubtedly give results
which are slightly more accurate than those ob-
tained by the method previously proposed by
us (2).
We feel, however, that the following comments
should be noted:
(a) The changes we introduced into the method
of Childs and Parks (3, which made possible a
uniform method of assay for liquid and nonliquid
soaps (as well as other cosmetics), have been
negated by the changes proposed by Matuszak,
et al., so that the method is again limited to liquid
soaps, just like the original method of Childs and
Parks.
(b) A second, and in our opinion more serious
objection, relates to the accuracy which can be
achieved. This is based on the fact that the
soap-base of the bithionol soap (without the bi-
thionol) has to be available. This limits the use
of the method to the laboratory of the manufac-
turer concerned. In Europe, conditions in the
272
trade of drugs and cosmetics are such that it is
the manufacturer a dummy, blank, or control
sample, of any product which a third party wishes
to analyze independently.
(c) Matuszak, et al., conclude in their summary
that the buffer solutions used by us are no longer
required. Yet they have to add, of course, a solu-
tion which brings the pT€ to 2. Moreover, addi-
tion of an alkaline buffer will be necessary if the
soap does not have a pH of 8 of itself; e. g., the
so-called “artificial soaps.”
These considerations lead us to conclude, there-
fore, that the value of the changes ptoposed by
Matuszak, et al., are more theoretical than
practical.
(1) Matuszak, J. B . . Bope, F. W., and Harris, L. E.,
Drug Standards 28 68(1960).
(2) van der Pol,h. J., Phartn. Weckblad, 93, 881(1958).
(3) Childs, R . , and Parks, I... THIS JOURNAL, 45, 313
(1956).
FI. J. VAN DER POL
N. V. Koninklijke Pharmaceutisrhe Pabrieken v/h
Brocades-Stheeman en Pharmacia
P. 0. Box 48
Amsterdam C,Holland
Received December 27, 19RO.
Accepted for publication January 6 , 1961.