Does Para-chloroaniline Really Form after Mixing Sodium Hypochlorite and Chlorhexidine?

Introduction: Mixing sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) with chlorhexidine (CHX) forms a brown-colored precipitate. Previous studies are not in agreement whether this precipitate contains para-chloroaniline (PCA). Tests used for analysis may demonstrate different outcomes. Purpose of this study was to determine whether PCA is formed through the reaction of mixing NaOCl and CHX by using high performance liquid chromatography, proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, gas chromatography, thin layer chromatography, infrared spectroscopy, and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

Methods: To obtain a brown precipitate, 4.99% NaOCl was mixed with 2.0% CHX. This brown precipitate was analyzed and compared with signals obtained from commercially available 4.99% NaOCl, 2% solutions, and 98% PCA in powder form.

Results: Chromatographic and spectroscopic analyses showed that brown precipitate does not contain free PCA.

Conclusions: This study will be a cutoff proof for the argument on PCA formation from reaction of CHX and NaOCl.