Comparison of second derivative-spectrophotometric and reversed-phase HPLC methods for the determination of prednisolone in pharmaceutical formulations.

Second derivative-spectrophotometric and high-performance liquid chromatographic methods for the determination of prednisolone in pharmaceutical formulations have been developed. Determination of prednisolone in tablets was conducted by using a second-order derivative UV spectrophotometric method at 250 nm (n = 5). Standards for the calibration graph ranging from 5.0 to 35.0 microg/ml were prepared from stock solution. The proposed method was accurate, with 98% recovery value, and precise, with a coefficient of variation (CV) of 1.38. These results were compared with those obtained by an exclusively developed isocratic reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. An isocratic reversed-phase Bondapak C(18) column with acetonitrile-citrophosphate buffer (pH 5; 45:55 v/v) mobile phase was used and UV detector was set to 241 nm using 11 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone as an internal standard. Calibration solutions used in HPLC were in the range from 2 to 300 microg/ml. Results obtained by derivative UV spectrophotometric method were comparable to those obtained by HPLC method, as far as analysis of variance (ANOVA) test, F(calculated), 0.762 and F(theoretical), 3.89, results were concerned.     

An oxidimetric method for the determination of thiophanatemethyl in commercial formulations

A simple, accurate and reliable titrimetric method is described for the determination of thiophanate-methyl, an important commercial fungicide. The method is based on its direct titration at room temperature with ammonium hexanitratocerate(IV) in sulphuric acid medium in the presence of potassium iodate as catalyst. The method permits detection of the end-point visually, potentiometrically or spectrophotometrically. The proposed method is recommended for routine determination of the fungicide in its commercial formulations.     

Partial least squares-near infrared determination of pesticides in commercial formulations

A solvent free, fast and environmentally friendly near infrared-based methodology (NIR) was developed for pesticide determination in commercially available formulations. This methodology was based on the direct measurement of the diffuse reflectance spectra of solid samples and a multivariate calibration model (partial least squares, PLS) to determine the active principle concentration in commercial formulations. The PLS calibration set was built on using the spiked samples by mixing different amounts of pesticide standards and powdered samples. Buprofezin, Diuron and Daminozide were used as test analytes. Concentration of Buprofezin in the samples was calculated employing a 4-factors PLS calibration using the spectral information in the range between 2231–2430 and 1657–1784 nm. For Diuron determination a 1-factor PLS calibration model using the spectral range 1110–2497 nm, after a linear removed correction. Daminozide determination was carried out employing a 4-factors PLS model using the spectral information in the ranges 1644–1772 and 2014–2607 nm without baseline correction. The root mean square errors of prediction (RMSEP) found were 1.1, 1.7 and 0.7% (w/w) for Buprofezin, Diuron and Daminozide determination, respectively. The developed PLS-NIR procedure allows the determination of 120 samples/h, does not require any sample pre-treatment and avoids waste generation.     

Differential-pulse polarographic determination of the insecticide imidacloprid in commercial formulations

The reduction reaction of imidacloprid [1-(6-chloro-3-pyridylmethyl)-N-nitroimidazolidin-2-ylideneamine] at a mercury electrode shows two well-defined waves in the range of pH 2.0–11.0. The characteristics of the electrode processes were examined. The analyte captures four electrons in the first step and two in the second to give the hydroxylamine and amine derivatives, respectively. A differential-pulse polarographic method for the determination of imidacloprid based on the first reduction peak of this compound is presented. Britton-Robinson buffer was used as a supporting electrolyte and optimum pH value was found to be pH 8.O. The applicable concentration range was from 10 to 200 ng/ml, with a relative standard deviation of 1.5% (for a level of 80 ng/ml) and a detection limit of 3 ng/ml. The method has been satisfactorily applied to the determination of imidacloprid in commercial formulations.     

Amperometric and spectrophotometric determination of carbaryl in natural waters and commercial formulations

The work presented describes the development and evaluation of two flow-injection analysis (FIA) systems for the automated determination of carbaryl in spiked natural waters and commercial formulations. Samples are injected directly into the system where they are subjected to alkaline hydrolysis thus forming 1-naphthol. This product is readily oxidised at a glassy carbon electrode. The electrochemical behaviour of 1-naphthol allows the development of an FIA system with an amperometric detector in which 1-naphthol determination, and thus measurement of carbaryl concentration, can be performed. Linear response over the range 1.0×10^–7 to 1.0×10^–5 mol L^–1, with a sampling rate of 80 samples h^–1, was recorded. The detection limit was 1.0×10^–8 mol L^–1. Another FIA manifold was constructed but this used a colorimetric detector. The methodology was based on the coupling of 1-naphthol with phenylhydrazine hydrochloride to produce a red complex which has maximum absorbance at 495 nm. The response was linear from 1.0×10^–5 to 1.5×10^–3 mol L^–1 with a detection limit of 1.0×10^–6 mol L^–1. Sample-throughput was about 60 samples h^–1. Validation of the results provided by the two FIA methodologies was performed by comparing them with results from a standard HPLC–UV technique. The relative deviation was <5%. Recovery trials were also carried out and the values obtained ranged from 97.0 to 102.0% for both methods. The repeatability (RSD, %) of 12 consecutive injections of one sample was 0.8% and 1.6% for the amperometric and colorimetric systems, respectively.     

Rapid determination of fosetyl-aluminium in commercial pesticide formulations by high-performance liquid chromatography

An isocratic reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) method with diode array detection (DAD) was developed for the determination of aluminium tris(ethyl phosphonate) (fosetyl-aluminium, fosetyl-Al) in plant-protection products. The method involves extraction of the active ingredient by sonication of the sample with water and direct measurement by RPHPLC. The isocratic RP-HPLC method for the analysis of fosetyl-Al thus developed was then validated for specificity, linearity, precision, and accuracy. The chromatographic peak confirmation was performed by LC-MS using electron spray ionisation in the negative-ion mode. The repeatability of the method, expressed as relative standard deviation (RSD, %), was found to be 0.5 % and the limit of detection was 0.035 mg mL^?1. The average recoveries of the three fortification levels varied from 96.7 % to 100.6 % and the RSDs ranged between 2.6 % and 6.3 %. The precision of the method was also considered to be acceptable as the experimental repeatability relative standard deviation (RSD_r) was lower than the RSD_r, calculated using the Horwitz equation. The method is rapid, simple, accurate, cost-effective, and provides a new and reliable means for the analysis of fosetyl-Al in formulated products.     

New internal standard for quantitative determination of oxyphytosterols by gas chromatography

A study was conducted to develop a new internal standard for the quantitative determination of oxyphytosterols. Tests on 5-androsten-3beta,17beta-diol; 5alpha-androstan-3beta,17beta-diol; 5-pregnen-3beta,20alpha-diol; and 5alpha-pregnan-3beta,20beta-diol showed that these compounds were not fully adequate. However, the compound 3beta,22-dihydroxy-20-homo-5-pregnene, synthesized in 4 steps, resulted in a promising internal standard, with a molecule similar to hydroxysterols; retention time as trimethylsilyl in gas chromatography comprised between 5alpha-cholestane and 7alpha-hydroxycholesterol; clear mass spectrum in electronic impact mass spectrometry, with several intense ions suitable for selected ion monitoring-mass spectrometry. Further studies are necessary to observe the behavior of these compounds during the entire analytical procedure.     

A new spectrophotometric method for the determination of dithianon in commercial formulations and its residues in foodstuffs

A new, simple, and rapid spectrophotometric method for the microdetermination of dithianon, on the basis of its reaction with a dithiocarbamate, is described. The red color, which develops instantaneously when mixing the fungicide with the reagent in acetonitrile, is stable for at least 1 h and is measured at 520 nm. Beer's law is applicable up to 12 micrograms/mL dithianon concentration. The method has been successfully adapted to the analysis of the fungicide in commercial formulations and its residues on grains and apple (fruit and leaves). A photometric titration method for formulation analysis of the fungicide has also been developed.     

Spectrophotometric method for determination of atrazine and its application to commercial formulations and real samples

A simple sensitive spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination of atrazine in herbicide formulations and real samples. The method was based on the reaction of atrazine with pyridine to form a quaternary halide which in the presence of alkali forms a carbinol base. The heterocyclic ring of the carbinol base breaks and forms the glutaconic dialdehyde. The glutaconic dialdehyde group was coupled with sulfanilic acid to form a yellow coloured product having λ _max 450 nm or coupled with aniline to form a orange red coloured product having λ _max 480 nm. The Beer's law was obeyed over the range from 0.1 to 25 µg mL^?1 and molar absorptivity 1.5 × 10⁴ L mol^?1 cm^?1 for sulfanilic acid, and from 0.08 to 12 µg mL^?1 and molar absorptivity 1.3 × 10⁴ L mol^?1 cm^?1 for aniline were observed. The reaction conditions and other analytical parameters were optimised. The proposed method has been successfully applied for the analysis of commercial formulations and real samples.     

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%.     

A simple and rapid spectrophotometric method for determination of thiophanate-methyl in commercial formulations and its residues in foodstuffs

A new, simple, rapid, and sensitive spectrophotometric method for the determination of thiophanate-methyl, based on its reaction with cobalt(II) in the presence of triethylamine, has been developed. The yellowish green color that develops instantaneously on mixing the fungicide with the reagents in dimethylformamide is stable for at least 2 h and has maximum absorbance at 360 nm. The method has been successfully applied to the determination of thiophanate-methyl in its commercial formulations and residues on grains and apples. A photometric titration procedure for formulation analysis of the fungicide has also been developed.     

The determination of ethanol in wine by voltammetry with an internal standard

A rapid method for the electroanalysis of ethanol is presented that incorporates flow extraction at room temperature, with voltammetric detection and potassium ferrocyanide [K₄Fe(CN)₆] as internal standard. In 0.1 M NaOH electrolyte, ethanol was oxidised at a platinum comb-shaped working electrode at −300 mV (vs. a Ag/AgCl reference electrode) and K₄Fe(CN)₆ was oxidized at +180 mV. The ratio of the anodic peak currents was linear with ethanol concentration in the range of 0.1 to 8.0% (v./v.), and the detection limit (calculated as 3 σ background) was 0.012 % (v./v.) for Osteryoung square wave voltammetry (OSWV) and 0.023 %(v./v.) for cyclic voltammetry (CV). The average extraction efficiency of ethanol from aqueous solutions, at 20 ± 1°C, was 8.5%. The repeatability was in the range of 2.5 to 3.3% RSD (n = 8), and accuracy was in the range of 95.2 to 104.7% for the determination of wine samples. Application to wines compared well with GC and HPLC methods and the nominal ethanol concentration determined by gravimetry. Analytical parameters in CV and OSWV are optimized, and the dependence of the extraction efficiency with temperature and nitrogen gas flow is presented.     

CCD-ICP-AES内标法同时测定化肥中12种有害元素

研究了采用CCD-ICP-AES同时测定化肥中As、Cd、Co、Cr、Cu、Hg、Mo、Ni、Pb、Sb、Se和Zn等12种有害元素的方法.采用微波消解法处理样品,加入Y作为内标,消除了化肥基体对测定结果的干扰效应.方法对化肥中各元素的测定回收率在81.6%～120%之间,测定精密度在0.7%～13.8%之间.用该法测定了两种国家标准物质.     

Simultaneous spectrofluorimetric determination of 1-naphthylacetic acid and 1-naphthalenacetamide in commercial formulations and soil samples

A spectrofluorimetric method for the simultaneous determination of 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA) and 1-naphthalenacetamide (NAD) was developed. The sample solution containing both analytes was equilibrated with Sephadex QAE A-25 gel by agitation and then only NAA was fixed on gel, while the remaining NAD stayed in the solution. The relative fluorescence intensity of NAA fixed on Sephadex QAE A-25 gel was measured directly after packing the gel beads in a 1-mm silica cell, using a solid-phase attachment. NAD was determined spectrofluorimetrically in the solution. The wavelengths of excitation and emission chosen for the determination of NAA were 280 and 336 nm, respectively, and for NAD determination 222 and 337 nm, respectively. The applicable concentration range was 12-60 ng ml(-1) for NAA and 6-120 ng ml(-1) for NAD. The detection limit was 3 ng ml(-1) for NAA and 2 ng ml(-1) for NAD. The method was applied satisfactorily to the determination of NAA and NAD in commercial formulations of phytohormones and soil samples.     

A simple and green analytical method for determination of glyphosate in commercial formulations and water by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy

This article describes a simple, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly method for the monitoring of glyphosate using diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The proposed method is based on reflectance measurements of the colored compound produced from the spot test reaction between glyphosate and p-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde (p-DAC) in acid medium, using a filter paper as solid support. Experimental designs were used to optimize the analytical conditions. All reflectance measurements were carried out at 495 nm. Under optimal conditions, the glyphosate calibration graphs obtained by plotting the optical density of the reflectance signal (AR) against the concentration were linear in the range 50-500 μg mL(-1), with a correlation coefficient of 0.9987. The limit of detection (LOD) for glyphosate was 7.28 μg mL(-1). The technique was successfully applied to the direct determination of glyphosate in commercial formulations, as well as in water samples (river water, pure water and mineral drinking water) after a previous clean-up or pre-concentration step. Recoveries were in the ranges 93.2-102.6% and 91.3-102.9% for the commercial formulations and water samples, respectively.     

Application of a capillary electrophoresis method for simultaneous determination of preservatives in pharmaceutical formulations

Preservatives are used to protect pharmaceutical formulations from microbial attack during the period of administration to the patient. Because of their biological activity, preservatives have to be identified and assayed according to the same rules as apply to active components. A number of methods for separation of preservatives are reported, to account for the heterogeneity of their chemical structures. A capillary electrophoretic method was devised for simple and simultaneous qualification and quantification of the preservatives most often included in pharmaceuticals, such as benzyl alcohol, parabens, phenol, m-cresol, chlorobutanol, thimerosal. After systematic method development, the electrophoretic conditions were defined as: 50 mM borate buffer pH 9.0 containing 20 mM SDS. Separations were performed at a temperature of 20 degrees C and with detection at 214 nm. Preservatives under examination can be analyzed within a 10 min run. The method was successfully validated and applied to the determination of preservatives in a number of pharmaceuticals. Results from the CE method were compared with those from reference methods.     

Simultaneous determination of carbaryl and azinphos-methyl in water by first-derivative synchronous spectrofluorimetry

A method is proposed for the simultaneous determination of the pesticides carbaryl (CBL) and azinphos-methyl (AZM) in water by first-derivative synchronous spectrofluorimetry. It is based on the alkaline hydrolysis of both pesticides to their metabolites 1-naphthol (from CBL) and anthranilic acid (from AZM). The constant wavelength difference chosen to optimize the determination is Δλ=λ_em?λ_ex=103 nm. CBL is measured at 302/405 nm and AZM at 333/436 nm. The calibration graphs are linear between 2.0 and 500.0 ng/ml for CBL and between 1.2 and 500.0 ng/ml for AZM with detection limits of 0.62 ng/ml and 0.35 ng/ml, respectively. The precision of the method (RSD) is 2.4% at the 80.0 ng/ml level for CBL and 2.5% at the 80.0 ng/ml level for AZM. The method is applied to the determination of both analytes in samples of natural waters.     

Simple method for the determination of rosiglitazone in human plasma using a commercially available internal standard

To the best of our knowledge, bioanalytical methods to determine rosiglitazone in human plasma reported in literature use internal standards that are not commercially available. Our purpose was to develop a simple method for the determination of rosiglitazone in plasma employing a commercially available internal standard (IS). After the addition of celecoxib (IS), plasma (0.25 mL) samples were extracted into ethyl acetate. The residue after evaporation of the organic layer was dissolved in 750 microL of mobile phase and 50 microL was injected on to HPLC. The separation was achieved using a Hichrom KR 100, 250 x 4.6 mm C(18) with a mobile phase composition potassium dihydrogen phosphate buffer (0.01 m, pH 6.5):acetonitrile:methanol (40:50:10, v/v/v). The flow-rate of the mobile phase was set at 1 mL/min. The column eluate was monitored by fluorescence detector set at an excitation wavelength of 247 nm and emission wavelength of 367 nm. Linear relationships (r(2) > 0.99) were observed between the peak area ratio rosiglitazone to IS vs rosiglitazone concentrations across the concentration range 5-1000 ng/mL. The intra-run precision (%RSD) and accuracy (%Dev) in the measurement of rosiglitazone were <+/-10.69 and <-12.35%, respectively across the QC levels (50-1000 ng/mL). The extraction efficiency was >80% for both rosiglitazone and IS from human plasma. The lower limit of quantitation of the assay was 5 ng/mL. In summary, the methodology for rosiglitazone measurement in plasma was simple, sensitive and employed a commercially available IS.     

Colorimetric method for the determination of captafol (difolatan) in commercial formulations and residues on grains and apples.

A simple and rapid colorimetric method for the microdetermination of captafol (difolatan), based on its reaction with a dithiocarbamate, has been developed. The bright yellow colour which develops instantaneously on mixing the fungicide with the reagent is stable for at least 12 h. The method has been successfully adapted to the determination of captafol in its formulated products and residues on grains and apples.     

Liquid chromatographic analysis of certain commercial formulations for non-opioid analgesics

A simple and sensitive method for separation and quantitative determination of non-opioid analgesics from pharmaceutical preparations has been developed and validated. Commercial formulations of three non-opioid analgesics, viz. paracetamol, ibuprofen and diclofenac, were chosen for present studies. These were extracted, isolated, purified and recrystallized and were characterized by melting point, lambda(max) and IR. Quantitative determination was carried out using HPLC and TLC supplemented with UV spectrophotometry.