The Accelerated Solvent Extraction system (ASE) uses elevated temperature and pressure to increase the efficiency of the extraction process. ASE automates and improves solvent extraction by significantly decreasing solvent consumption and extraction time. This application note describes the use of the ASE system for solvent extraction of five marker compounds from herbal preparations followed by analysis by HPLC. The results are compared to traditional pharmacopoeia extraction methods.

The Thermo Scientific Dionex UltiMate 3000 LC system is applied for the analysis of Caffeine and its impurities. The separation was performed on a Thermo Scientific Acclaim 120 C18 HPLC column using the method described in the EP 8.0 monograph. The results obtained for resolution and tailing factor exceeded the criteria stated in the EP. Resolution between impurity C and D was 4.4 (EP criteria of not less than 2.5), resolution between impurity F and A was 4.2 (EP criteria of not less than 2.5), and tailing factor for caffeine was 1.1 (EP criteria not more than 2.0).

The Thermo Scientific Dionex UltiMate 3000 LC system is applied for the analysis of Caffeine and its impurities. The separation was performed on a Thermo Scientific Acclaim 120 C18 HPLC column using the method described in the USP 38 monograph. The results obtained for resolution and tailing factor exceeded the criteria stated in the USP. Resolution between theophylline and caffeine was 12.3 (USP criteria of not less than 6.0) and tailing factor for theophylline and caffeine was 1.1 (USP criteria not more than 2.0).

The Thermo Scientific GC system is applied for the analysis of drugs of abuse. The separation is performed on a Thermo Scientific TRACE TR-DoA 5MS GC column, with MS detection.

The Thermo Scientific HPLC system is applied for the analysis of vitamins and other ingredients in an energy drink. The separation is performed on a Thermo Scientific Acclaim PolarAdvantage (PA) column, with UV detection.