title: Room temperature phosphorescence of diazepam and its application to the determination of diazepam in serum and in a tablet formulation.
abstract: The room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) properties of diazepam were investigated. The filter papers Whatman No. 1, DE-81 and P-81 were tested as substrates and compounds of I(-), Tl(I), Ag(I), Pb(II) and Hg(II) were evaluated as heavy atom enhancers. The RTP of diazepam spotted from neutral (pH approximately 6.2) and acidic (pH approximately 1.6) solutions were compared. The largest RTP signal for diazepam was obtained from Whatman No. 1 in the presence of Hg(II) in an acidic environment. The absolute limits of detection ranged from 0.5 to 1.9 ng depending on the experimental conditions. RTP was evaluated as a simple, rapid and sensitive screening method for toxic levels of diazepam in serum and for the analysis of diazepam in pharmaceutical formulation (tablets).
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Andino
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Winefordner