Determination of chloramphenicol by coupling a continuous reduction system to an atomic-absorption spectrometer

A simple method for the determination of chloramphenicol in pure powders, capsules, tablets, oral suspensions and eye ointments, based on its reduction to the amino derivative by a cadmium or zinc column, is reported. Chloramphenicol can be determined in the range 2–30 μg/ml, with a relative standard deviation of 1.5% and a sampling frequency of 150/hr. The proposed method has greater simplicity, sensitivity and rapidity than the previously reported batch method.