Determination of diclofenac in pharmaceutical preparations by diffuse reflectance photometry

A quantitative analytical method for the determination of diclofenac in pharmaceutical preparations by diffuse reflectance in the visible region of the spectrum is presented. The color reaction is done directly in the measuring cell immediately after mixing, using small volumes of the analyte solution, of the reagent and of the buffer solutions. All reflectance measurements were carried out in a home made reflectometer equipped with a red LED as light source and a LDR as detector. The calibration curves were constructed from 1.0 to 18 mg mL⁻¹ (about 3.0 × 10⁻³ to 5.5 × 10⁻² mol L⁻¹) of sodium diclofenac or of potassium diclofenac in the analytical solution, with typical correlation coefficients equal to 0.999. The detection limit was estimated to be about 0.7 mg mL⁻¹ (2 × 10⁻³ mol L⁻¹). The method was applied to determine diclofenac in solid and liquid pharmaceutical preparations. The R.S.D. varied from 2% to 4% depending of the sample. The results were compared with those obtained with the HPLC procedure recommended by the United States Pharmacopoeia using the statistical Student's t-test procedure.     

漫反射FT-IR法测定阿奇霉素片剂中阿奇霉素的含量

采用红外温反射定量分析技术，测定了阿奇霉素片剂中阿奇霉素的含量。在红外光谱中，吸光度与阿奇霉素的浓度成良好的线性关系，平均回回收率为99.2%,RSD为1.7%。可用于阿奇霉素片剂中阿奇霉素的含量测定。     

Detection of propranolol in pharmaceutical formulations by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy

This paper describes an analytical reflectometric method that has an objective not only the industrial quality control but also to detect possible falsifications and/or adulterations of propranolol in pharmaceutical formulations. The method is based on the diffuse reflectance measurements of the colored product (III) of the spot test reaction between propranolol hydrochloride (I) and 2,6-dichloroquinone-4-chloroimide (II) using filter paper as solid support. Spot test conditions have been investigated using experimental design in order to identify and optimize the critical factors. The factors evaluated were DCQ concentration, propranolol solvent and DCQ solvent. The best reaction conditions were achieved with the addition of 30 microL of propranolol solution in ethanol 35% (v/v) and 30 microL of DCQ solution at 70 mg mL(-1) in acetone, in this order. All reflectance measurements were carried out at 500 nm and the linear range was from 8.45x10(-4) to 8.45x10(-2)mol L(-1) (r=0.998). The limit of detection was 1.01x10(-4)mol L(-1). No interference was observed from the assessed excipients and drugs. The method was applied to determine propranolol in commercial brands of pharmaceuticals. The results obtained by the proposed method were favorably compared with those given by the British Pharmacopoeia procedure.     

Rapid determination of aluminum by UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy with application of suitable adsorbents

Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) can be used as a rapid and sensitive method for the quantitative determination of low amounts of aluminum. In this analytical technique, the analyte in samples are extracted onto a solid sorbent matrix loaded with a colorimetric reagent and then quantified directly on the adsorbent surface. Alternatively, colored aluminum complexes formed in solution can also be immobilized onto adsorbent surface and be measured by DRS technique. Octadecyl silica disk, methyltrioctylammonium chloride–naphthalene and MCM-41 were examined as adsorbents. Eriochrome cyanine R and quinalizarin were used as coloring reagents. Optimal sorption conditions were found for each system of analyte–reagent–adsorbent. The concentration of analyte is determined using the appropriate form of the Kubelka–Munk function. We obtained for each of the aluminium–reagent–adsorbent system a calibration curve by plotting the absorbance versus the log 10²[Al³⁺] μg ml⁻¹. The linear dynamic range extends over two orders of magnitude within 0.01–15 μg ml⁻¹ with little differences in the range and in the correlation coefficients among the adsorbents. We consider that for a rapid determination of aluminum a spot-test-DRS combination with a detection limit of 1.0 × 10⁻² μg ml⁻¹ is the more facile and preferred technique.     

Characterization of estuarine sediments by near infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy

It has been developed a partial least squares near infrared (PLS-NIR) method for the determination of estuarine sediment physicochemical parameters. The method was based on the chemometric treatment of first order derivative reflectance spectra obtained from samples previously lyophilized and sieved through a lower than 63 μm grid. Spectra were scanned from 833 to 2976 nm, averaging 36 scans per spectrum at a resolution of 8 cm⁻¹, using chromatographic glass vials of 9.5 mm internal diameter as measurement cells. Models were built using reference data of 31 samples selected through the use of a hierarchical cluster analysis of NIR spectra of sediments obtained from the Ria de Arousa estuary and prediction parameters were established from a validation set of 50 samples of the same area. pH, redox potential (Eh), carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and hydrogen (H) content together with Sn, Pb, Cd, As, Sb and total Cr and also acid soluble, reducible and oxidable Cr fractions were employed as characteristic parameters of the studied sediments. Standard error of prediction values for C and N content were of the order of 4 and 1.3 mg g⁻¹ for H. Prediction errors for pH and Eh were 0.15 units and 37 mV, respectively, thus indicating the good prediction capabilities of the method. Regarding trace metal concentrations PLS-NIR provided prediction error levels for unknown samples around 20% for Sn, Pb, As and Sb and root mean square errors of prediction around 40% for concentration levels of 400 ng g⁻¹ Cd and 100 μg g⁻¹ Cr. For the different extractable fractions of Cr the residual prediction deviation varied from 1.3 to 1.7 but relative errors found for samples of the validation set were only useful for screening purposes.     

Study of the aerosol fragrances of eugenol derivatives in Cananga odorata using diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy and gas chromatography

The purpose of this study was to develop and test a diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) method, a fast and non-destructive method without extraction, and compare it with the standard gas chromatography (GC) method currently used. A micro-orifice uniform deposit impactor (MOUDI) was used to sample all the size distributions of the aerosol particles of essential oils to investigate the relation between size distributions and the indoor concentration distributions of ylang essential oils. Correlation coefficients for DRIFTS and GC were 0.9904, 0.9910, 0.9913, and 0.9983 for eugenol, isoeugenol, methyl ether, and eugenyl acetate, respectively. The results showed that the concentrations of the four eugenol derivatives of smoke were approximately three times higher than those of mist. Additionally, the major size distributions of aerosol were 0.19 μm and 1.8 μm for the smoke and mist methods, respectively. Because these two methods produce similar results, DRIFTS is a practical method for assessing these fragrances in aerosols.     

Intercomparison of industrial near-infrared diffuse reflectance measurements

An intercomparison of diffuse reflectance measurements in the near-infrared region was carried out. Fourteen participants from industry and academia measured a number of different reflectance standards, calibrated at the NPL, over the wavelength range from 800 to 2500 nm. Measurements were made in the integrating sphere geometries, i.e. specular included and specular excluded and in the 0/45 geometry. The results of the intercomparison are presented. The raw data results showed significant variations in the value of diffuse reflectance measured across industry, in excess of 80% difference from NPL reflectance values in some cases. Renormalisation of the data to the NPL near-infrared diffuse reflectance scale significantly improved the agreement in measured values between participants, most being within 5% of the NPL values. Integrating sphere errors were present in many of the instruments used.     

Chemometric determination of arsenic and lead in untreated powdered red paprika by diffuse reflectance near-infrared spectroscopy

It has been evaluated the potential of near-infrared (NIR) diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) as a way for non-destructive measurement of trace elements at μg kg⁻¹ level in foods, with neither physical nor chemical pre-treatment. Predictive models were developed using partial least-square (PLS) multivariate approaches based on first-order derivative spectra. A critical comparison of two spectral pre-treatments, multiplicative signal correction (MSC) and standard normal variate (SNV) was also made. The PLS models built after using SNV provided the best prediction results for the determination of arsenic and lead in powdered red paprika samples. Relative root-mean-square error of prediction (RRMSEP) of 23% for both metals, arsenic and lead, were found in this study using 20 well characterized samples for calibration and 13 additional samples as validation set. Results derived from this study showed that NIR diffuse reflectance spectroscopy combined with the appropriate chemometric tools could be considered as an useful screening tool for a rapid determination of As and Pb at concentration level of the order of hundred μg kg⁻¹.     

Determination of triglycerides in human serum by near-infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy using silver mirror as a substrate

Quantitative determination of serum triglycerides was achieved in diffuse reflectance mode using silver mirror as the substrate to enhance the spectral features.     

Rapid, low level determination of silver(I) in drinking water by colorimetric-solid-phase extraction

A rapid, highly sensitive two-step procedure for the trace analysis of silver(I) is described. The method is based on: (1) the solid-phase extraction (SPE) of silver(I) from a water sample onto a disk impregnated with a silver-selective colorimetric reagent, and (2) the determination of the amount of complexed analyte extracted by the disk by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). This method, called colorimetric-solid-phase extraction (C-SPE), was recently shown effective in determining low concentrations (0.1-5.0 mg/ml) of iodine and iodide in drinking water. This report extends C-SPE to the trace (∼4 μg/l) level monitoring of silver(I) which is a biocide used on the International Space Station (ISS). The determination relies on the manually driven passage of a water sample through a polystyrene-divinylbenzene disk that has been impregnated with the colorimetric reagent 5-(p-dimethylaminobenzylidene) rhodanine (DMABR) and with an additive such as a semi-volatile alcohol (1,2-decanediol) or nonionic surfactant (Brij 30). The amount of concentrated silver(I) is then determined in a few seconds by using a hand-held diffuse reflectance spectrometer, with a total sample workup and readout time of ∼60 s. Importantly, the additive induces the uptake of water by the disk, which creates a local environment conducive to silver(I) complexation at an extremely high concentration factor (∼800). There is no detectable reaction between silver(I) and impregnated DMABR in the absence of the additive. This strategy represents an intriguing new dimension for C-SPE in which additives, directly loaded in the disk material, provide a means to manipulate the reactivity of the impregnated reagent.     

Testing of the Region of Murcia soils by near infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and chemometrics

A partial least squares near infrared (PLS-NIR) method has been developed for the determination of several physicochemical parameters in soils from different locations of the Region of Murcia. The method was based on the proper chemometric treatment of diffuse reflectance spectra of soil samples. Reflectance spectra were scanned from samples stored in glass vials in the NIR region between 800 and 2600 nm, averaging 36 scans per spectrum at a resolution of 8 cm⁻¹. Models were built using reference data of 39 samples selected from a dendrogram obtained after hierarchical cluster analysis of NIR spectra of soils and prediction parameters were established from a validation set of 109 additional samples of the same area not considered to build the model. Organic matter, CaCO₃, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), together with several trace metals as Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Cd and Tl, were employed as characteristic parameters of the soils under study, and found results evidenced that PLS-NIR provides a valuable tool for screening purposes providing residual predictive deviations which ranged from 0.9 to 1.5 as a function of the considered parameter.     

Use of polyurethane foam and 3-hydroxy-7,8-benzo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline for determination of nitrite by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and colorimetry

Polyurethane foam (PUF) has been suggested as a solid polymeric reagent for determination of nitrite. The determination is based on the diazotization of end toluidine groups of PUF with nitrite in acidic medium followed by coupling of polymeric diazonium cation with 3-hydroxy-7,8-benzo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline. The intensely colored polymeric azodye formed in this reaction can be used as a convenient analytic form for the determination of nitrite by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (c _min = 0.7 ng mL⁻¹). The possibility of using a desktop scanner, digital camera, and computer data processing for the numerical evaluation of the color intensity of the polymeric azodye has been investigated. A scanner and digital camera can be used for determination of nitrite with the same sensitivity and reproducibility as with diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The approach developed was applied for determination of nitrite in river water and human exhaled breath condensate.     

Nondestructive and rapid determination of nitrate in soil, dry deposits and aerosol samples using KBr-matrix with diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (DRIFTS)

This paper presents the development of a new, rapid and precise analytical method for submicrogram levels of nitrate (NO₃⁻) in environmental samples like soil, dry deposit samples, and coarse and fine aerosol particles. The determination of submicrogram levels of nitrate is based on the selection of a quantitative analytical peak at 1385 cm⁻¹ among the three observed vibrational peaks and preparing calibration curves using different known concentrations of nitrate by diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infra red spectrometric (DRIFTS) technique. Pre-weighed and ground infrared (IR) grade KBr was used as substrate over which remarkably wide range of known concentration of nitrate was sprayed and dried. The dried sample was analyzed by DRIFTS and absorbance was measured. Eight calibration curves for four different concentration ranges of nitrate for absorbance as well as peak area were prepared for samples containing lower and relatively higher values of nitrate. The relative standard deviation (n = 8) for the nitrate concentration ranges, 0.05-40, 0.05-1.5, 1.5-25, 5-40 μg/0.1 g KBr were in the range 1.6-2.3% for the above calibration curves. The limit of detection (LOD) of the method is 0.07 μg g⁻¹ NO₃⁻. The F- and t-tests were performed to check the analytical quality assurance test. The noteworthy feature of the reported method is the noninterference of any of the associated cations. The results were compared with that of ion-chromatographic method with high degree of acceptability. The method can be applied in wide concentration ranges. The method is reagent less, nondestructive, very fast, repeatable, and accurate and has high sample throughput value.     

p-Aminobenzoate ion determination in pharmaceutical formulations by using a potentiometric sensor immobilized in a graphite matrix

The characteristics, performance, and application of an electrode, namely, Pt|Hg|Hg₂(PABzt)₂| graphite, where PABzt stands for p-aminobenzoate ion, are described. This electrode responds to PABzt with sensivity of (58.1±1.0) mV per decade over the range 1.0×10⁻⁴ to 1.0×10⁻¹ mol l⁻¹ at pH 6.5-8.0 and a detection limit of 3.2×10⁻⁵ mol l⁻¹. The electrode shows easy construction, fast response time (within 10-30 s), low-cost, and excellent response stability (lifetime greater than 6 months, in continuous use). The proposed sensor displayed good selectivity for p-aminobenzoate in the presence of several substances, especially, concerning carboxylate and inorganic anions. It was used to determine p-aminobenzoate in pharmaceutical formulations by means of the standard additions method. The results obtained by using this electrode compared very favorably with those given by an HPLC procedure.     

Establishment of absolute diffuse reflectance scales using the NPL Reference Reflectometer

Absolute scales of radiance factor and diffuse reflectance are being established at the NPL using the Reference Reflectometer. In the basic instrument, a reflecting sample and a detector can be rotated about a common vertical axis to any angular positions relative to an incident light beam. The sample can also be displaced horizontally and vertically, allowing examination of its uniformity and removal for direct measurement of the incident beam. The polarization of the incident light is defined by a Rochon prism, and wavelengths are selected by means of interference filters or a double monochromator. The wavelength range has been extended into the near ultraviolet and the near infrared using UV-enhanced silicon and Peltier-cooled InGaAs photodiodes.

For absolute measurement of radiance factor, the light reaching the detector passes through a circular aperture whose diameter and distance from the reflecting surface are determined. The flux distribution is made closely similar when observing the incident beam and the reflected beam. Diffuse reflectance is then derived by numerical integration of results over a full hemisphere, avoiding errors due to nonuniformity of an integrating sphere and giving a direct link between radiance factor and diffuse reflectance scales.     

Measurement of diffuse reflectance from combinatorial samples

Using a luminescence spectrometer as a platform, a system of fibre-optic probes was created that allows full colour characterisation, fluorescence and phosphorescence spectra to be recorded in diffuse reflectance and in transmission from thick or thin film arrays of combinatorial samples of diameter down to 2 mm and from liquids. An integrating sphere is not required and the method is more versatile than the instrument's fibre-optic plate reader which has conjoined fibre bundles set at a fixed angle. Incident and detected light is routed via separate optical fibre bundles which remain stationary above or below a two-axis table. The validation and calibration are described. A library of 25 members was scanned for both diffuse reflectance (colour) and fluorescence in less than an hour. The method thus combines techniques that conventionally rely on different instruments and makes them amenable for high throughput libraries.     

Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy of powders

Diffuse reflectance (DRIFT) spectra in the mid-IR region, especially of inorganic powders, often reveal inverted or derivative-like structures (“reststrahlen” bands) which make their straightforward interpretation in terms of the Kubelka-Munk theory difficult. A simulation technique based on a combination of single scattering (Mie theory) and radiative transfer (with Kubelka-Munk as a special case) is reported that allows measured DRIFT spectra to be described without use of any free “fit” parameters. The results for silica glass microspheres and silicon carbide powder show that not specular reflectance but prominent structures in the single particle scattering cross-section are responsible for the reststrahlen features which cannot be suppressed even by diluting the powder in an excess of KBr. The efficiency of a “blocker” device in DRIFTS is also discussed.     

Benefits of applying combined diffuse reflectance FTIR spectroscopy and principal component analysis for the study of blue tempera historical painting

This paper explores the application of diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) to the examination of historic blue pigments and blue tempera paintings commonly found on works of art. The discussion is mainly focused on the practical benefits of using this technique joined to principal component analysis (PCA), a powerful multivariate analysis tool. Thanks to the study of several replica samples that contain either pure blue pigments (azurite, lapis lazuli and smalt), or pure binder (rabbit glue) and mixtures of each of the pigments with the binder (tempera samples), different aspects of these benefits are highlighted. Comparative results of direct spectra and multivariate analysis using transmittance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (T-FTIR) are discussed throughout this study. Results showed an excellent ability of PCA on DRIFT spectra for discriminating replica samples according to differing composition. Several IR regions were tested with this aim; the fingerprint IR region exhibited the best ability for successfully clustering the samples. The presence of the binder was also discriminated. Only using this approach it was possible to completely separate all the studied replica samples. This demonstrates the potential benefits of this approach in identifying historical pigments and binders for conservation and restoration purposes in the field of Cultural Heritage.     

Discrimination of Ganoderma lucidum according to geographical origin with near infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and pattern recognition techniques

A rapid and nondestructive near infrared (NIR) method combined with chemometrics was used to discriminate Ganoderma lucidum according to cultivation area. Raw, first, and second derivative NIR spectra were compared to develop a robust classification rule. The chemical properties of G. lucidum samples were also investigated to find out the difference between samples from six varied origins. It could be found that the amount of polysaccharides and triterpenoid saponins in G. lucidum samples was considerably different based on cultivation area. These differences make NIR spectroscopic method viable. Principal component analysis (PCA), discriminant partial least-squares (DPLS) and discriminant analysis (DA) were applied to classify the geographical origins of those samples. The results showed that excellent classification could be obtained after optimizing spectral pre-treatment. For the discriminating of samples from three different provinces, DPLS provided 100% correct classifications. Moreover, for samples from six different locations, the correct classifications of the calibration as well as the validation data set were 96.6% using the DA method after the SNV first derivative spectral pre-treatment. Overall, NIR diffuse reflectance spectroscopy using pattern recognition was shown to have significant potential as a rapid and accurate method for the identification of herbal medicines.     

Simultaneous determination of glycerol and clavulanic acid in an antibiotic bioprocess using attenuated total reflectance mid infrared spectroscopy

Attenuated total reflectance mid infrared (ATR-MIR) spectroscopy is a potential technique for the near real-time monitoring of filamentous bioprocesses. Here we investigate the utility of ATR-MIR to monitor and predict concentrations of glycerol and product (clavulanic acid) in a complex antibiotic bioprocess. Streptomyces clavuligerus exhibits filamentous growth, thus, as biomass accumulates the process fluid becomes much more viscous, and develops pronounced non-Newtonian behaviour. A multivariate statistical technique, partial least square (PLS) has been used to develop models for the key analytes over the time course of the bioprocess. These models were then validated externally using unseen samples, not used in the original modelling exercise. Despite the heterogeneous nature of the bioprocess and the resulting complexity of the spectra, the models developed had high correlation coefficient values and low prediction error values of 0.302 and 0.009 for glycerol and clavulanic acid, respectively. The findings extend the use of ATR-MIR in these difficult fluids which are typical of filamentous industrial bioprocesses, and demonstrate the practical utility of the technique in the measurement of a range of analyte types, including those present at relatively modest levels compared to the concentrations of biomass and major substrates.