High-speed ion-pair partition chromatography in pharmaceutical analysis.
Ion-pair chromatography offers attractive possibilities in pharmaceutical analysis. The specificity of the separation systems can be varied over a wide range by appropriate selection of the stationary phase. The choice of a suitable counter-ion can also drastically improve the detection limit, permitting the determination of drug substances in low dosage and possibly of by-products or breakdown products. Ion-pair chromatography of tropane and ergot alkaloids has been investigated using picrate as counter-ion. Alumina, Kieselguhr and various grades of silica gel have been tested as supports. Partition properties studied in a batch procedure have been compared with the actual chromatographic conditions. Columns (10 cm) filled with silical gel (particle size, 5 mum; pore size, 1000 A) show the best performance in the separation of hyoscyamine, scopolamine and ergotamine as picrate ion-pairs. Close control of pH and temperature is essential for reproducible separations. Improvements in detection limits between 100 and 300 times have been observed with these systems. Ion-pair extractions of these alkaloids from dosage forms can be used for sample preparation prior to injection on the the column. This provides an added degree of selectivity and sensitivity.
D001285:Atropine / Q000032:analysis; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004876:Ergot Alkaloids / Q000032:analysis*; D004878:Ergotamine / Q000032:analysis; D005782:Gels; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008832:Microchemistry; D012601:Scopolamine / Q000032:analysis; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D013696:Temperature; D014326:Tropanes / Q000032:analysis*
D004876:Ergot Alkaloids; D005782:Gels; D014326:Tropanes; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D001285:Atropine; D012601:Scopolamine; D004878:Ergotamine