Application of sodium metaperiodate for the determination of ribavirin in pharmaceutical formulations

Three simple and sensitive visible spectrophotometric methods (A-C) have been described for the assay of ribavirin either in pure form or in pharmaceutical formulations. They are based on the oxidation of ribavirin with excess sodium metaperiodate and estimating either the products formed (dialdehyde with MBTH, method A; iodate with metol-sulphanilamide, in the presence of Mo(VI) and iodide, method B) or the amount of periodate consumed (celestine blue in the presence of telurium (IV), method C). All of the variables have been optimized and the reaction mechanisms presented. The concentration measurements are reproducible within a R.S.D. of 1.0%. Recoveries are 99.2-101.2%.