Determination of hydroquinone levels in whitening serum circulating at market place x using the uv-vis Spectrophotometric method

Abstract

Hydroquinone is a dangerous substance in cosmetic products that has been banned for use on the face and skin, even though hydroquinone is relatively high in society. This study aimed to determine the hydroquinone content in whitening serum circulating in the marketplace using the UV-Vis spectrophotometry method. This type of research is descriptive and non-experimental. Samples of 12 whitening serums circulating in marketplace X were selected by purposive sampling. Qualitative analysis of organoleptic tests and color tests using FeCl3. Quantitative analysis of the determination of hydroquinone levels in whitening serum by UV-Vis spectrophotometry. The wavelength detection of 295 nm resulted from a linear regression formula of Y = 0.0331x + 0.0697 with a correlation coefficient (r) = 0.9997. Qualitative analysis of the organoleptic tests showed that 4 of the 12 samples were positively hydroquinone in samples S1, S2, S11 and S12 with a sticky to very sticky texture and a pungent odor. The results of the color test showed that 2 of the 12 samples suspected of being positive for hydroquinone in samples S3 and S11 showed a dark brown color.
Method validation in the specificity test has a maximum wavelength of 294 nm at 4, 10, and 14 ppm concentrations. Precision test yields % RSD 0.10%. The accuracy test produces a %recovery value of 77.98%. The quantitative analysis test results for determining hydroquinone levels in whitening serum circulating in marketplace X using the UV-Vis spectrophotometry method showed that all 12 serum samples contained hydroquinone with levels ranging from 2.20 to 3.77%. From this study, it can be concluded that all bleach serum samples circulating in marketplace X contained hydroquinone levels that did not meet the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency requirements.