The analysis of alcohol content in hand sanitisers (in the Durban region) using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry during the COVID-19 pandemic

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dc.contributor.authorGovender, Kamini
dc.contributor.authorMdanda, Sipho
dc.contributor.authorBaijnath, Sooraj
dc.contributor.authorKruger, Hendrik Gerhardus
dc.contributor.authorGovender, Thavendran
dc.contributor.authorNaicker, Tricia
dc.coverage.conferenceissn
dc.date.accessioned2026-03-27T10:50:53Z
dc.date.available2026-03-27T10:50:53Z
dc.date.issued2022
dc.departmentNameChemistry
dc.description.abstractThe COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented surge in the demand for alcohol-based hand sanitisers (ABHS). The Centre for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organisation (WHO) recommend alcohol, i.e., isopropanol or ethanol, at a 60-95% concentration in ABHS for sufficient antiviral protection. Consumers need to be vigilant of substandard hand sanitisers being marketed to the public. The frequent exposure of microorganisms to alcohol concentrations below the recommended range for infection prevention may lead to resistant mutations, and above the range may be ineffective. Therefore, this study aimed to verify the stated alcohol content in hand sanitisers from their respective labels. We analysed 50 hand sanitiser samples available to our region in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, using a Shimadzu GC-MS-QP2010 Ultra equipped with a Zebron ZB-wax capillary column. The hand sanitisers analysed had a range of 44–93% alcohol content. The data from our study also revealed that 32% (16) of hand sanitisers did not adhere to the stated alcohol indicated on their labels. 16% (8) contained >80% and 12% (6) contained <60%, while 6% (3) of the ABHS contained 1-propanol and ethyl acetate as contaminants, respectively. This study clearly emphasises manufacturers’ exploitation of the pandemic and the need for stricter guidelines and regulations for consistency amongst ABHS manufacturers. The public should also be more alert to the % alcohol stated (ideal range 60-80%) on the sanitizer bottle and note one needs to rub their hands together until it feels dry.
dc.facultyFaculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering
dc.identifier.citationGovender, K., Mdanda, S., Baijnath, S., Kruger, H.G., Govender, T. and Naicker, T. 2022. The analysis of alcohol content in hand sanitisers (in the Durban region) using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry during the COVID-19 pandemic. South African Journal of Chemistry, 76, pp.20-24.
dc.identifier.issn996-840X (online)
dc.identifier.issn0379-4350 (print
dc.identifier.otherhttps://doi.org/10.17159/0379-4350/2022/v76a04
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10530/59060
dc.inproceedingsissn
dc.issuenumber76
dc.keynoteissn
dc.language.isoEnglish
dc.pages20 - 24
dc.peerreviewedYes
dc.publisherSouth African Chemical Institute (SACI)
dc.subjectAlcohol-content
dc.subjectEthanol
dc.subjectGas chromatography-mass spectrometry
dc.subjectHand sanitiser
dc.subject2-propanol (isopropanol)
dc.titleThe analysis of alcohol content in hand sanitisers (in the Durban region) using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry during the COVID-19 pandemic
dc.title.journalSouth African Journal of Chemistry
dc.typeJournal Article
dspace.entity.typePublication
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