Xylitol
(zye' li tol).
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C5H12O5 152.15
Xylitol.    
DEFINITION
Xylitol contains NLT 98.5% and NMT 101.0% of C5H12O5, calculated on the anhydrous basis.
IDENTIFICATION
•  A. Infrared Absorption 197K (undried sample)
ASSAY
•  Procedure
Internal standard solution:  3.5 mg/mL of USP Erythritol RS
Standard solution:  0.05 mg/mL each of USP l-Arabinitol RS, USP Galactitol RS, USP Mannitol RS, and USP Sorbitol RS, and 10 mg/mL of USP Xylitol RS
Sample solution:  10 mg/mL of Xylitol
Chromatographic system 
Mode:  GC
Detector:  Flame ionization
Column:  0.25-mm × 30-m capillary column bonded with a 0.25-µm layer of phase G46
Temperature 
Injector:  270
Detector:  280
Column:  See Table 1.
Table 1
Initial
Temperature
()
Temperature
Ramp
(/min)
Final
Temperature
()
Hold Time
at Final Temperature
(min)
170 170 5
170 6 215 8
215 10 270 14
Carrier gas:  Helium
Flow rate:  1 mL/min
Injection size:  1 µL
System suitability 
Sample:  Standard solution
[Note—The relative retention times corresponding to the derivatives of erythritol, l-arabinitol, xylitol, mannitol, galactitol, and sorbitol are 0.47, 0.75, 0.81, 0.98, 0.99, and 1.0, respectively. ]
Suitability requirements 
Relative standard deviation:  NMT 1.5% for the peak area ratios of xylitol to erythritol
Analysis 
Samples:  Standard solution and Sample solution
Transfer 1.0 mL each of the Samples to separate round-bottom, 10-mL boiling flasks. To each flask, add 1.0 mL of Internal standard solution, and evaporate each of the mixtures under reduced pressure to dryness on a water bath at 60, with the aid of a rotary evaporator. Add 1 mL of dehydrated alcohol, shake gently, and evaporate to dryness under the same conditions. Dissolve each residue in 1 mL of pyridine. Add 1 mL of acetic anhydride to each flask, cap each flask, and mix on a vortex mixer for 30 s. Store the closed flasks in an oven at 70 for 30 min. Separately inject the solutions of the Sample solution and the Standard solution into the chromatograph.
Calculate the percentage of xylitol (C5H12O5) in the portion of Xylitol taken:
Result = (RU/RS) × (CS/CU) × 100
RU== peak area ratio of derivatized xylitol to derivatized erythritol in the Sample solution
RS== peak area ratio of derivatized xylitol to derivatized erythritol in the Standard solution
CS== concentration of xylitol in the Standard solution (mg/mL)
CU== concentration of Xylitol in the Sample solution (mg/mL)
Acceptance criteria:  98.5%–101.0% on the anhydrous basis
IMPURITIES
•  Residue on Ignition 281: NMT 0.5%
•  Heavy Metals 231: NMT 10 ppm: using 2 g of Xylitol dissolved in 25 mL of water
•  Reducing Sugars
Sample:  500 mg
Analysis:  Dissolve the Sample in 2.0 mL of water in a 10-mL conical flask. Into a similar flask, pipet 2 mL of a 0.5 mg/mL dextrose solution. To each flask, add 1 mL of alkaline cupric tartrate TS, heat to boiling, and cool.
Acceptance criteria:  Any turbidity in the xylitol flask is NMT that in the dextrose flask, in which a reddish brown precipitate forms (0.2% reducing sugars, as dextrose).
•  Limit of Other Polyols
Analysis:  Using the chromatograms obtained in the Assay, separately calculate the percentage of each polyol in the portion of Xylitol taken:
Result = (RU/RS) × (CS/CU) × 100
RU== peak response ratio of the individual derivatized polyol to the derivatized erythritol in the Sample solution
RS== peak response ratio of the individual derivatized polyol to the derivatized erythritol in the Standard solution
CS== concentration of the individual polyol in the Standard solution (mg/mL)
CU== concentration of Xylitol in the Sample solution (mg/mL)
Acceptance criteria:  The sum of the polyols is NMT 2.0%, calculated on the anhydrous basis.
SPECIFIC TESTS
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
•  Packaging and Storage: Preserve in well-closed containers.
•  USP Reference Standards 11
USP l-Arabinitol RS Click to View Structure
USP Erythritol RS Click to View Structure
USP Galactitol RS Click to View Structure
USP Mannitol RS Click to View Structure
USP Sorbitol RS Click to View Structure
USP Xylitol RS Click to View Structure
Auxiliary Information— Please check for your question in the FAQs before contacting USP.
Topic/Question Contact Expert Committee
Monograph Robert H. Lafaver, M.S.
Scientific Liaison
1-301-816-8335
(EXC2010) Monographs - Excipients
Reference Standards RS Technical Services
1-301-816-8129
rstech@usp.org
USP35–NF30 Page 2018
Pharmacopeial Forum: Volume No. 37(4)