Spectrophotometric methods for sertraline hydrochloride and/or clidinium bromide determination in bulk and pharmaceutical preparations

A spectrophotometric procedure for the determination of sertraline hydrochloride (Sert) and/or clidinium bromide (Clid) in bulk sample and in dosage forms was developed. The purpose of this work was to develop a rapid, simple, inexpensive, precise, and accurate visible spectrophotometric method. The procedure is based on formation of an ion-pair complex by their reaction with bromocresol green (BCG), bromophenol blue (BPB), and bromothymol blue (BTB) in buffered aqueous solution at pH 3. The colored products are extracted into a polar solvent and measured spectrophotometrically at the optimum λ_max for each complex. Optimization of different experimental conditions is described. Regression analysis of Beer-Lambert plots showed good correlation in the concentration range of 1–30 μg mL⁻¹. The apparent molar absorptivity, Sandell sensitivity, detection and quantification limits were calculated. For more accurate analysis, Ringbom optimum concentration range of 2–27 μg mL⁻¹ was used. The developed methods were successfully applied for the determination of sertraline hydrochloride and clidinium bromide in bulk in pharmaceutical formulations without any interference from common excipients. The procedure has the advantage of being highly sensitive and simple for the determination of the studied drugs, weak UV-absorbing compounds.