Quantitative and selective analysis of lactose by capillary electrophoresis

A GE method has been validated for the analysis of batches of lactose used as a pharmaceutical raw material. This method was shown to be selective for lactose and was found to be quantitative. The separation was achieved due to on-capillary chelation of the lactose with berate ion. The resulting complex was detected at 195nm. An internal standard is employed to improve injection precision and detector linearity. A system peak occurred in the separation and was systematically investigated to show that it was not sample related. The method was validated and successfully submitted to regulatory authorities and is now in routine use in a number of our quality control laboratories.