Hana Sklenářová

Sequential injection chromatographic determination of ambroxol hydrochloride and doxycycline in pharmaceutical preparations

A new separation method based on a novel reversed-phase sequential injection chromatography (SIC) technique was used for simultaneous determination of ambroxol hydrochloride and doxycycline in pharmaceutical preparations in this contribution. The coupling of short monolith with SIA system results in an implementation of separation step to until no-separation low-pressure method. A Chromolith((R)) Flash RP-18e, 25-4.6mm column (Merck, Germany) and a FIAlab((R)) 3000 system (USA) with a six-port selection valve and 5ml syringe were used for sequential injection chromatographic separations in our study. The mobile phase used was acetonitrile-water (20:90, v/v), pH 2.5 adjusted with 98% phosphoric acid, flow rate 0.48mlmin(-1), UV detection was at 213nm. The validation parameters have shown good results: linearity of determination for both compounds including internal standard (ethylparaben) >0.999; repeatability of determination (R.S.D.) in the range 0.5-5.4% at three different concentration levels, detection limits in the range 0.5-2.0mugml(-1), and recovery from the pharmaceutical preparation in the range 99.3-99.9%. The chromatographic resolution between peak compounds was >5.0 and analysis time was <9min under the optimal conditions. The method was found to be applicable for routine analysis of the active compounds ambroxol hydrochloride and doxycycline in various pharmaceutical preparations.

Automated simultaneous monitoring of nitrate and nitrite in surface water by sequential injection analysis

A fully automated procedure based on Sequential Injection Analysis (SIA) methodology for simultaneous monitoring of nitrate and nitrite in surface water samples is described. Nitrite was determined directly using the Griess diazo-coupling reaction and the formed azo dye was measured at 540 nm in the flow cell of the fibre-optic spectrophotometer. Nitrate zone was passed through a reducing mini-column containing copperised-cadmium. After the reduction of nitrate into nitrite the sample was aspirated by flow reversal to the holding coil, treated with the reagent and finally passed through the flow cell. The calibration curve was linear over the range 0.05-1.00 mg N l(-1) of nitrite and 0.50-50.00 mg N l(-1) of nitrate; correlation coefficients were 0.9993 and 0.9988 for nitrite and nitrate, respectively. Detection limits were 0.015 and 0.10 mg N l(-1) for nitrite and nitrate, respectively. The relative standard deviation (RSD) values (n = 3) were 1.10% and 1.32% for nitrite and nitrate, respectively. The total time of one measuring cycle was 250 s, thus the sample throughput was about 14 h(-1). Nitrate and nitrite were determined in the real samples of surface water, and the results have been compared with those obtained by two other flow methods; flow injection analysis based on the same reactions and isotachophoretic determination used in a routine environmental control laboratory.

Enhanced capabilities of separation in Sequential Injection Chromatography--fused-core particle column and its comparison with narrow-bore monolithic column.

In the Sequential Injection Chromatography (SIC) only monolithic columns for chromatographic separations have been used so far. This article presents the first use of fused-core particle packed column in an attempt to extend of the chromatographic capabilities of the SIC system. A new fused-core particle column (2.7 μm) Ascentis(®) Express C18 (Supelco™ Analytical) 30 mm × 4.6 mm brings high separation efficiency within flow rates and pressures comparable to monolithic column Chromolith(®) Performance RP-18e 100-3 (Merck(®)) 100 mm × 3 mm. Both columns matches the conditions of the commercially produced SIC system - SIChrom™ (8-port high-pressure selection valve and medium-pressure Sapphire™ syringe pump with 4 mL reservoir - maximal work pressure 1000 PSI) (FIAlab(®), USA). The system was tested by the separation of four estrogens with similar structure and an internal standard - ethylparaben. The mobile phase composed of acetonitrile/water (40/60 (v/v)) was pumped isocratic at flow rate 0.48 mL min(-1). Spectrophotometric detection was performed at wavelength of 225 nm and injected volume of sample solutions was 10 μL. The chromatographic characteristics of both columns were compared. Obtained results and conclusions have shown that both fused-core particle column and longer narrow shaped monolithic column bring benefits into the SIC method.

Development and validation of a rapid HPLC method for the determination of ascorbic acid, phenylephrine, paracetamol and caffeine using a monolithic column

This article reports a fast and simple liquid chromatographic method for determination of ascorbic acid, phenylephrine, paracetamol and caffeine. Salicylic acid was used as internal standard. The analytes were successfully separated in less than 5 min by isocratic elution using monolithic column, Onyx Monolithic C18 (100 × 4.6 mm), with mobile phase composed of acetonitrile and phosphate buffer (pH 6.50) (10 : 90, v/v) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL min−1 and 25 °C, sample volume was 10 μL. Detection was observed at two wavelengths 210 nm (phenylephrine, paracetamol and salicylic acid) and 235 nm (ascorbic acid and caffeine). The optimized method was applied for the determination of the analytes in pharmaceutical formulation Coldrex tablets (Smithkline Beecham Consumer Healthcare, United Kingdom) commonly used in virosis treatment.

Simple automated generation of gradient elution conditions in sequential injection chromatography using monolithic column.

The paper deals with the concept of simple automated creation of gradient profile of the mobile phase for gradient-elution sequential injection chromatography (GE-SIC). The feasibility and merits of this concept are demonstrated on the separation and simultaneous assay of indomethacin as active principle and of its two degradation products (5-methoxy-2-methylindoleacetic acid and 4-chloro-benzoic acid) in a topical pharmaceutical formulation. The GE-SIC separation was performed with a FIAlab(®) 3000 SIC set-up (USA) equipped with an Onyx™ Monolithic C18 (25 mm × 4.6mm, Phenomenex(®)) column, a six-port selection valve, a 5-mL syringe pump and a fiber-optics UV CCD detector. Ketoprofen was used as an internal standard (IS). The gradient elution was achieved by automated reproducible mixing of acetonitrile and aqueous 0.2% phosphoric acid in the holding coil of the SIC system. Different profiles of the gradient elution were tested. The optimal gradient using two mobile phases 30:70 and 50:50 of acetonitrile/0.2% phosphoric acid (v/v) was achieved under the optimum flow rate 1.2 mL min(-1). The chromatographic resolution R between the peaks of all solutes (including the IS) was >2.00. The repeatability of retention times was characterized by the RSD values 0.18-0.30% (n=6). Net separation time was 3.5 min and the mobile phase consumption was 4.5 mL for a single GE-SIC assay. The figures of merit of the novel GE-SIC method compared well with those of conventional HPLC.

A novel dual-valve sequential injection manifold (DV-SIA) for automated liquid–liquid extraction. Application for the determination of picric acid

A novel dual-valve sequential injection system (DV-SIA) for online liquid-liquid extraction which resolves the main problems of LLE utilization in SIA has been designed. The main idea behind this new design was to construct an SIA system by connecting two independent units, one for aqueous-organic mixture flow and the second specifically for organic phase flow. As a result, the DV-SIA manifold consists of an Extraction unit and a Detection unit. Processing a mixture of aqueous-organic phase in the Extraction unit and a separated organic phase in the Detection unit solves the problems associated with the change of phases having different affinities to the walls of the Teflon tubing used in the SI-system. The developed manifold is a simple, user-friendly and universal system built entirely from commercially available components. The system can be used for a variety of samples and organic solvents and is simple enough to be easily handled by operators less familiar with flow systems. The efficiency of the DV-SIA system is demonstrated by the extraction of picric acid in the form of an ion associate with 2-[2-(4-methoxy-phenylamino)-vinyl]-1,3,3-trimethyl-3H-indolium reagent, with subsequent spectrophotometric detection. The suggested DV-SIA concept can be expected to stimulate new experiments in analytical laboratories and can be applied to the elaboration of procedures for the determination of other compounds extractable by organic solvents. It could thus form a basis for the design of simple, single-purpose commercial instruments used in LLE procedures.

Application of DV-SIA manifold for determination of thiocyanate ions in human saliva samples

An automated, simple and inexpensive double-valve sequential injection analysis (DV-SIA) spectrophotometic method with online liquid-liquid extraction, for the determination of thiocyanate has been developed. The method has been based on the formation of an ion associate between thiocyanate and Astra Phloxine in acidic medium, and the subsequent extraction with amylacetate. The absorbance of the extracted ion associate was measured at 550nm. The calibration function was linear in the range 0.05-0.50mmolL(-1) and the regression equation was A=(1.887±0.053) [SCN(-)mmolL(-1)]+(0.037±0.014) with a correlation coefficient of 0.995. The precision of the proposed method was evaluated by the relative standard deviation (RSD) values at two concentration levels: 0.20 and 0.50mmolL(-1). The obtained results were 1.0 and 2.8%, respectively, for the intra-day precision, and 4.2 and 3.8%, respectively for the inter-day precision. The calculated detection limit was 0.02mmolL(-1). The developed method has been successfully applied for determining thiocyanate ions in human saliva samples.

Sequential injection system for simultaneous determination of chloride and iodide by a Gran's plot method

This paper describes an automated set-up based on the sequential injection analysis (SIA) concept with potentiometric detection for the determination of chloride and iodide at low concentrations. The assessment of both ion concentrations is accomplished by titration with silver ions using the Grans plot approach. The proposed procedure enables chloride and iodide to be determined simultaneously in the range 6.0 × 10 -6 to 1.0 × 10 -4 mol l -1 if a minimum silver concentration in the volumetric solution is chosen (5 x 10 -5 mol l -1 ). Conventional titrations based on the first derivative evaluation of the equivalence points applied to the same solutions fail, especially for chloride determinations. Although, a comparison of results obtained for higher analyte concentrations shows that they have similar accuracy and precision.

Automated in-syringe single-drop head-space micro-extraction applied to the determination of ethanol in wine samples.

A novel approach of head-space single-drop micro-extraction applied to the determination of ethanol in wine is presented. For the first time, the syringe of an automated syringe pump was used as an extraction chamber of adaptable size for a volatile analyte. This approach enabled to apply negative pressure during the enrichment step, which favored the evaporation of the analyte. Placing a slowly spinning magnetic stirring bar inside the syringe, effective syringe cleaning as well as mixing of the sample with buffer solution to suppress the interference of acetic acid was achieved. Ethanol determination was based on the reduction of a single drop of 3mmol L(-1) potassium dichromate dissolved in 8mol L(-1) sulfuric acid. The drop was positioned in the syringe inlet in the head-space above the sample with posterior spectrophotometric quantification. The entire procedure was carried out automatically using a simple sequential injection analyzer system. One analysis required less than 5min including the washing step. A limit of detection of 0.025% (v/v) of ethanol and an average repeatability of less than 5.0% RSD were achieved. The consumption of dichromate reagent, buffer, and sample per analysis were only 20μL, 200μL, and 1mL, respectively. The results of real samples analysis did not differ significantly from those obtained with the references gas chromatography method.

Highly sensitive sequential injection determination of p-aminophenol in paracetamol formulations with 18-molybdodiphosphate heteropoly anion based on elimination of Schlieren effect.

A highly sensitive, precise and automated method using sequential injection analysis to assay quantitatively low levels of the p-aminophenol (PAP) in paracetamol formulations has been developed. A solution containing PAP and paracetamol is injected into an acetate buffer carrier stream and merged on-line with 18-molybdodiphosphate heteropoly complex reagent to form a specific blue derivative that is subsequently detected spectrophotometrically at 820nm. The procedure has been optimized mainly with respect to measurement sensitivity. It is based on the leveling off of the refraction indices of the liquids mixed in the flow system by the careful matching of the refractive index of the reagent solution with that of the carrier and sample solutions. Amount as low as 0.5μmolL(-1) of PAP, which corresponds to the 0.001% of PAP in paracetamol tablets, can be reliably determined using the proposed method, which is clearly below the specification limits recommended for PAP determination in paracetamol drug and tablet formulations (50ppm or 0.005% (w/w)). The developed method was successfully applied to the analysis of paracetamol formulations spiked with PAP and determination of PAP content in Rapidol tablets past their expiration date both by proposed SIA and reference HPLC methods.