Application of a vidicon spectrometer for simultaneous multicomponent drug determinations

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Spectroscopy
• Pharmaceutical Analysis

Background:

• Simultaneous determination of drugs in mixtures often requires complex separation techniques.
• Ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy is a common method for drug quantification.
• Rapid and efficient analytical methods are crucial in pharmaceutical and clinical settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a rapid scanning vidicon spectrometer for simultaneous drug determination in mixtures.
• To assess the feasibility of analyzing multicomponent drug samples without prior separation.
• To demonstrate the application of computer-interfaced spectroscopy for resolving complex mixtures.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a rapid scanning vidicon spectrometer to collect spectral data in the UV region.
• Employed on-line data acquisition with a small computer at high repetition rates (100 scans/sec).
• Applied matrix equations to process absorbance data at multiple wavelengths for component resolution.

Main Results:

• Successfully determined drugs in various mixtures, including two-component serum mixtures (procainamide and N-acetylprocainamide).
• Quantified drugs in two-component aqueous mixtures (butabarbital and seconbarbital).
• Resolved seven-component aqueous mixtures containing phenobarbital, diphenylhydantoin, aminophylline, acetaminophen, salicylamide, phenylbutazone, and secobarbital.

Conclusions:

• The computer-interfaced vidicon spectrometer is a viable tool for simultaneous multicomponent drug determinations.
• The method eliminates the need for separation steps, offering a significant advantage in speed and simplicity.
• This technique provides accurate quantification of individual drug components within complex mixtures.