Talc is a mineral species belonging to the Phyllosilicates (class of Silicates). It is a hydrated magnesium silicate, formed naturally by the alteration of other minerals. This means that talcum powder may be composed of additional minerals other than talc (chlorites, carbonates, quartz, amphiboles, among others).
The characteristics of talc make it a unique raw material with a wide variety of applications in different industrial sectors, including the pharmaceutical-cosmetic sector.
Samples of talcum powder were studied and their quality for pharmaceutical-cosmetic use was evaluated using the standards of the European Pharmacopoeia and different advanced complementary methods such as: XRF, DRX, ICP-masses, SEM-EDX, calcimetry and atomic absorption.
Most of the samples presented high relative purity in the mineral species talc, with a content of over 90% in most cases. This indicates good mineral quality for cosmetic use. Most of the samples also have good Pharmacopoeia quality and are therefore suitable for pharmaceutical-cosmetic use.

Keywords: Talc; European Pharmacopoeia; Mineral quality; Pharmaceutical-Cosmetic Use; Impurities.

Directed by: María Virginia Fernández González

Talc is a hydrated magnesium silicate, with the formula Mg3(OH)2Si4O10, which may contain small amounts of other associated minerals, such as Chlorite, Calcite, Dolomite and Magnesite. The characteristics of talc make it a unique raw material with a wide variety of applications in different industrial sectors, including the pharmaceutical-cosmetic sector.
In this research, we carried out a chemical, mineralogical and Pharmacopoeia study of samples of various talcum powders purchased on Amazon, by applying the European Pharmacopoeia standards and other complementary methods such as: XRF, XRD, ICP-mass, SEM-EDX, calcimetry and atomic absorption.
Most of the samples had a high talc purity (90-100%) with a few impurities such as Chlorite, Calcite, Dolomite, Quartz and Zincite.
In terms of mineral quality, all the talcum powders studied were suitable for cosmetic use. However, in terms of Pharmacopoeia quality, only six of the samples met the requirements.

Keywords: Talc; European Pharmacopoeia; Mineral quality; Pharmaceutical-Cosmetic Use; Impurities.

Directed by: María Virginia Fernández González

Talc is a mineral raw material, rich in the talc species with chemical formula Mg3Si4O10(OH)2. It belongs to the silicates class, specifically to phyllosilicates 2:1 and the subgroup of pyrophyllite-talc. This mineral is naturally associated with other minerals such as chlorites, magnesites and dolomites. In these cases, it is less pure and therefore of poorer quality.
Talc is widely used in industry, in particular as a pharmaceutical-cosmetic product. Pharmaceutical-cosmetic safety controls must therefore be conducted on these products and their mineralogical and chemical composition must be studied.
The aim of this research was to study the mineralogical and chemical composition of samples of topical talcum powder acquired in the Italian market in 2020, so as to determine the Pharmacopoeia quality of these samples and their suitability for use. To this end, the parameters specified in the European Pharmacopoeia 2014 were followed.

Keywords: Talc; European Pharmacopoeia; Mineral quality; Pharmaceutical-Cosmetic Use; Impurities.

Directed by: María Virginia Fernández González