Acetone

This article is compiled based on the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) – 2025 Edition

Issued and maintained by the United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP)

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C₃H₆O 58.08

2-Propanone;

Acetone CAS RN®: 67-64-1.

1 DEFINITION

Acetone contains NLT 99.0% of C H O, calculated on the anhydrous basis.

[Caution—Acetone is very ammable. Do not use where it may be ignited.]

2 IDENTIFICATION

Change to read:

A. Spectroscopic Identification Tests 〈197〉, Infrared Spectroscopy: 197F (CN 1-May-2020)

B. The retention time of the Sample corresponds to that of USP Acetone RS, as obtained in the Assay.

3 ASSAY

Procedure

Sample: Acetone

System suitability solution: Dilute 1.0 mL of USP Methyl Alcohol RS and 1.0 mL of USP Acetone RS with tetrahydrofuran to 50 mL.

Chromatographic system (See Chromatography 〈621〉, System Suitability.)

Mode: GC

Detector: Flame ionization

Column: 0.32-mm × 30-m fused-silica capillary; 1.8-μm of phase G43

Temperature

Column: See Table 1.

Table 1

Injector: 200°

Detector: 280°

Carrier gas: Helium

Flow rate: 35 cm/s (linear velocity)

Split ratio: 400:1

Injection volume: 1 μL

System suitability

Sample: System suitability solution

[Note—The relative retention times for methyl alcohol, acetone, and tetrahydrofuran are about 0.6, 1.0, and 1.9, respectively.]

Suitability requirements

Resolution: NLT 15 between the methyl alcohol and acetone peaks

Analysis

Sample: Sample

Calculate the percentage of acetone (C₃H₆O) in the portion of Acetone taken:

Result = (r_U/r_T) × 100

r_U = peak area due to the acetone peak in the Sample

r_T = sum of the areas of all the peaks in the Sample

[Note—No separate correction is applied for water content, because water does not respond to the ame-ionization detector.]

Acceptance criteria: NLT 99.0% on the anhydrous basis

4 SPECIFIC TESTS

4.1 Specific Gravity 〈841〉: NMT 0.789

4.2 Nonvolatile Residue: Evaporate 50 mL in a tared porcelain dish on a steam bath, and dry at 105° for 1 h.

Acceptance criteria: The weight of the residue does not exceed 2 mg (0.004%).

4.3 Water

Sample: Acetone

Standard solution: Transfer 0.50 mL of water to a dry 100-mL volumetric ask, dilute with dehydrated isopropyl alcohol to volume, and mix.

Blank: Dehydrated isopropyl alcohol

Chromatographic system

(See Chromatography 〈621〉, System Suitability.)

Mode: GC

Detector: Thermal conductivity

Column: 0.32-mm × 50-m capillary; 5.0-μm layer of support S2

Temperature

Column: See Table 2.

Table 2

Injector: 250°

Detector: 250°

Carrier gas: Helium

Flow rate: 11 mL/min

Split ratio: 4.5:1

Injection size: 1.0 μL

Analysis

Samples: Acetone, Standard solution, and Blank

[Note—Identify the peaks based on their relative retention times, which are 1.0 for water and about 1.9 for isopropyl alcohol.]

Acceptance criteria: The area of the water peak for Acetone is NMT that from the Standard solution, corrected for the area of the water peak from the Blank (0.5%).

Readily Oxidizable Substances

Analysis: Mix 20 mL with 0.10 mL of 0.10 N potassium permanganate in a glass-stoppered bottle.

Acceptance criteria: The permanganate color of the mixture does not completely disappear within 15 min.

5 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Packaging and Storage: Preserve in tight containers, remote from fire.

USP Reference Standards 〈11〉

USP Acetone RS

USP Methyl Alcohol RS