Microdetermination of cinchona alkaloids by atomic absorption spectroscopy

A sensitive and rapid microdetermination method has been developed for the determination of cinchona alkaloids via their mercury complex. Different parameters of the procedure have been thoroughly studied. The percentage recoveries for quinine, quinidine, cinchonine and cinchonidine were found to be 98.97 ±0.62, 99.06 ± 0.62, 98.90 ± 0.74, respectively. The results obtained are favourably compared to the official ones. The method is characterised by its specificity, accuracy and good precision.