Continuous flow molecular emission cavity analysis of cephalosporins by alkaline degradation to sulphide

A continuous flow method for the determination of some cephalosporins (cephradine, cephalexin, cephalosporin C, cefadroxil, cephapirin and cephalothin) in the general range 10.0-250.0 micrograms ml-1 is described. The sample is mixed with sodium hydroxide and remains for 20 min at 90 degrees C in the delay coil of an air-segmented system. The solution is then mixed with an excess of orthophosphoric acid, and the hydrogen sulphide evolved is continuously transferred into the cavity for generation of the S2 molecular emission. The analysis is automated, requires no sample pre-treatment and samples can be analysed at a rate of 30 per hour with a relative error of 1-2%. The method was evaluated by carrying out recovery experiments and by the analysis of commercial formulations. Results agreed well with those obtained by the standard methods.